Global support key to fighting eSwatini abuses

eSwatini received a score of 17 out of 100 in Freedom House’s Freedom in the World 2024 report. It scored one out of 40 on political freedoms and 16 out of 60 for civil liberties, with a conclusion that eSwatini was ‘not free’. The country’s score has been consistently low for years, correlating with its entrenched culture of impunity for human rights abuses. Human Rights Watch’s Nomathamsanqa Masiko-Mpaka says there has been no accountability for the security forces’ crackdown on pro-democracy protesters three years ago, despite the deaths of at least 46 people and up to 390 others injured, at least 265 of them with gunshot wounds. ‘On the contrary, the government has intensified its assault on dissenting views by arresting government critics on bogus charges, interfering with peaceful assembly and resisting calls for democratic reforms.’ In a column on the Mail & Guardian Online site, Masiko-Mpaka notes it has been more than 500 days since Thulani Maseko – a prominent human rights lawyer and opposition activist – was killed in January 2023. His wife, Tanele Maseko, commented: ‘We need an independent and internationally-led investigation into Thulani’s assassination. The government that jailed and then killed him cannot investigate itself.’

Masiko-Mpaka says the role that global, continental and regional actors can play cannot be overstated. Amnesty International has initiated a week of action campaign with the hashtag #500days to demand decisive action and accountability regarding the ‘stagnant’ investigation. The campaign seeks to rally activists globally to mobilise and enter discussions with Foreign Affairs Ministers and eSwatini diplomatic missions in their own countries. ‘Such initiatives should be encouraged, supported and – where possible – scaled up to ensure that the calls for justice and accountability ring out from all corners of the world to put pressure on eSwatini authorities to do the right thing.’ Masiko-Mpaka says if there are to be democratic reforms in Africa’s last absolute monarchy, global and continental solidarity may be the spark that will set alight the flame. ‘May the spark that brings democracy, rule of law and human rights shine bright in the kingdom of eSwatini and that people from other countries will reach out to that country’s people to provide the solidarity they have long deserved.’