Emaswati Protests Break Out Once Again
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa Visits Emaswati King Mswati III. (Flickr)
Protests have flared up once again in the Southern African Kingdom of eSwatini, formerly called Swaziland. Citizens of the continent’s last absolute monarchy are fighting for direct elections, pay raises, and the prison release of two pro-democracy members of parliament. A diplomatic delegation led by the Southern African Development Council (SADC) arrived in the country on October 21, and while the Emaswati government has promised national dialogue following negotiations with the delegation, protestors are skeptical of any promises.
An initial wave of protests, in which protests fought for similar causes, began over the summer, lasting from June into July. in which military forces were deployed. They used tear gas and water cannons against the protestors.
In eSwatini, the king handpicks ministers, and political parties are banned from the parliament. Thus, populist mobilization does not occur often. However, rising inequality and COVID-related economic stress have sustained the persistent protests. More than 60 percent of the country lived below the national poverty line before the pandemic, while the annual salary of King Mswati III is over $60 million, funded by taxpayers. Annual income has fallen due to pandemic-related inflation. Wandile Diulu, the Secretary General of Pudemo, the main banned political party, states that citizens “can’t elect a government of their choice... they pay tax but can’t hold [the government] accountable.”
The Emaswati government blocked both Facebook and Messenger on October 21st. While the government did not mention the protests as reasoning for the ban, the restrictions correlate with the flare-up of protests in October. Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku stated that the decision was designed to protect the people of the country.
As an absolute Monarchy, the government’s power is not subject to a checks and balances system, and its ability to suppress the voices of its citizens creates an environment in which pressure has to come from international forces. Thus, following the banning of the two networks, the SADC delegation - led by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, the leader of the organization’s political organ - became involved. The delegation aimed to facilitate a dialogue with the Emaswati government concerning the nation’s need for a “national dialogue.”
At the end of the dialogue on October 23, Ramaphosa announced, “King Mswati III has accepted the need for national dialogue… I appeal for calm, restraint, the respect for the rule of law and human rights on all sides to enable the process to commence.” Even Deputy Prime Minister Masuku acknowledged that government reforms were necessary. However, many activists do not believe that the government's offer of talks is genuine, especially as King Mswati left in late October for an annual three-month retreat. Therefore, talks would happen in late January at the earliest.
A promise with no backing to it is one thing. The facts are another. eSwatini is a country in which the monarchy has an absolute grip on power, and is able to control the spread of information and brutally crack down on protests with little pushback. Human Rights Watch calculated that at least 46 people have been killed since protests first broke out in June. Yet the only international action has been the rise of Ramaphosa’s delegation to action.