Ongoing unrest in eSwatini (previously Swaziland) has seen dozens of protestors killed by government forces, according to activists in South Africa’s small, landlocked neighbour.
In recent days the country’s king, Mswati III, who is the last absolute monarch in Africa, has deployed the army as pro-democracy protests sweep the country.
Wandile Dludlu, the secretary-general of the People’s United Democratic Movement (Pudemo), an opposition political party, said at least 40 people had been killed, according to a report in the Financial Times. More than 400 people were estimated to have been wounded.
The protests were sparked by the death in police custody of Thabani Nkomonye, a young law student. However, tensions have been simmering as the country’s government has restricted free political activity for many years.
The country is currently under a nationwide curfew which begins at 6pm, ostensibly to help restrict the spread of Covid-19, although this reason is viewed with scepticism by most observers.
There were rumours that Mswati had fled the country to Johannesburg but the government has denied this.
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