This year marks 55 years since Eswatini gained independence on the 6th of September 1968. But are Swazis free?

For more news, visit sabcnews.com and #SABCNews on all Social Media platforms.

Eswatini is Africa's last absolute monarchy, but the pro-democracy protestors who've been taking to the streets there want King Mswati III to change that, and soon.
Protesters have clashed with police for days, demanding democratic reforms in the kingdom formerly known as Swaziland. Eswatini is a small mountainous state between South Africa and Mozambique.
Though the government and the opposition give differing figures, they both agree that dozens died at the hands of security forces in the ensuing crackdown.
The turmoil prompted the government to impose tight restrictions on the population, partly justified on the grounds of the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. But the measures, including school closures and a curfew, only seemed to heighten tensions.
Shops and businesses set on fire, chaos on the streets, roads blocked, and stores looted. These were the scenes as anger boiled over among protestors calling for democracy in Eswatini.
King Mswati III has ruled Eswatini for more than three decades as an absolute monarchy - appointing the prime minister and retaining ultimate power. The king is known for his lavish lifestyle and 15 wives. He's also been accused of repressing any opposition. But there's growing demand for change.
Many of the businesses targeted in the latest wave of protests have links to the royal family. Eswatini's government imposed a curfew - and called for calm.
Security forces were sent in to deal with the unrest, and opposition groups say several dozen protestors were killed.
The UN has called the crackdown deeply concerning. Amid a tense calm, there are fears there could be more bloodshed to come.


Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/d....eutschewelleenglish?

For more news go to: http://www.dw.com/en/
Follow DW on social media:
►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deutschewellenews/
►Twitter: https://twitter.com/dwnews
►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwnews
Für Videos in deutscher Sprache besuchen Sie: https://www.youtube.com/dwdeutsch


#Eswatini #Swaziland #KingMswati

Pro-democracy protests have been banned in the Kingdom of Eswatini as South African envoys begin mediation.
Internet access has been limited, with Facebook shut off after protests against the king.
Dozens of pro-democracy demonstrators were injured in a crackdown that began in June.
Al Jazeera's Natasha Ghoneim reports from the capital Mbabane, Eswatini.

- Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe
- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish
- Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera
- Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/

#AlJazeeraEnglish #Eswatini #Protests

#Eswatini, a landlocked country nestled between #SouthAfrica and #Mozambique, was called "Swaziland" until 2018. The very last absolute monarchy on the African continent has been facing a growing wave of unrest since June 2021. What initially started as peaceful demonstrations was met with repression, violence and death. King Mswati III is being blamed for not listening to his subjects' demand for a modern political system and more democracy. As the protest movement keeps growing, Caroline Dumay and her team bring us this report from the troubled monarchy.

🔔 Subscribe to France 24 now: https://f24.my/YTen
🔴 LIVE - Watch FRANCE 24 English 24/7 here: https://f24.my/YTliveEN

🌍 Read the latest International News and Top Stories: https://www.france24.com/en/

Like us on Facebook: https://f24.my/FBen
Follow us on Twitter: https://f24.my/TWen
Discover the news in pictures on Instagram: https://f24.my/IGen

Voters are called to choose 59 members of the lower house of parliament, which plays only an advisory role to the monarch, King Mswati III, who wields absolute power.

READ MORE : https://[a]www.africanews.com%2F2023%2F09%2F29%2Feswatini-africas-last-absolute-monarchy-votes-for-parliament[/a]

Subscribe on our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/afri....canews?sub_confirmat and receive all the latest news from the continent.

Africanews is available in English and French.
Website : www.africanews.com
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/africanews.channel/
Twitter : https://twitter.com/africanews

#AfNews

The funeral of slain pro-democracy activist Thulani Maseko in the southern African nation of Eswatini - one of the world’s few remaining absolute monarchies - was held on Sunday (Jan.29) at his home in Bhunya, Kaluhleko, in the Manzini region.

READ MORE : https://[a]www.africanews.com%2F2023%2F01%2F30%2Feswatini-52-year-old-human-rights-lawyer-thulani-maseko-laid-to-rest[/a]

Subscribe on our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/afri....canews?sub_confirmat and receive all the latest news from the continent.

Africanews is available in English and French.
Website : www.africanews.com
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/africanews.channel/
Twitter : https://twitter.com/africanews

#AfNews

Hundreds of thousands of voters had been expected at polling stations across Eswatini, but some pro-democracy activists are staying away.
The elections follow protests in 2021 and 2022, calling for democratic reform and the government says that the elections are an opportunity for peoples' voices to be heard.

Al Jazeera's Fahmida Miller reports from the capital, Mbabane.

Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera
Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/
Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/
Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.io/AJEMobile

@AljazeeraEnglish
#Aljazeeraenglish
#News
#Eswatini #EswatiniElections #EswatiniParliamentaryElections

Unrest in Eswatini has left dozens of people dead or wounded in the past few months.
Protesters are demanding democracy in Africa's last absolute monarchy. But it is affecting the economy, with more than $68m in losses.
Al Jazeera's Natasha Ghoneim reports from Mbabane, Eswatini.

- Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe
- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish
- Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera
- Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/

#AlJazeeraEnglish #Eswatini #Poverty

"They are saying that there are elections that are free and fair, there is nothing like that," says a student union leader. About 585,000 registered voters will be called to choose 59 members of the lower house of parliament on Friday (Sep. 29).

READ MORE : https://[a]www.africanews.com%2F2023%2F09%2F28%2Fahead-of-a-vote-in-eswatini-africas-last-absolute-monarchy-some-lack-hope[/a]

Subscribe on our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/afri....canews?sub_confirmat and receive all the latest news from the continent.

Africanews is available in English and French.
Website : www.africanews.com
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/africanews.channel/
Twitter : https://twitter.com/africanews

#AfNews

Voting ended on Friday in Eswatini's legislative elections Africa's last absolute monarchy.

READ MORE : https://[a]www.africanews.com%2F2023%2F09%2F30%2Feswatini-opposition-calls-for-change-after-polls-close[/a]

Subscribe on our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/afri....canews?sub_confirmat and receive all the latest news from the continent.

Africanews is available in English and French.
Website : www.africanews.com
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/africanews.channel/
Twitter : https://twitter.com/africanews

#AfNews

Africa's last absolute monarchy is facing criticism over its human rights record.

Earlier this year, a prominent lawyer was killed in Eswatini - some say by the government.

On Friday, people voted in a parliamentary election - but MPs only have an advisory role.

Al Jazeera’s Fahmida Miller reports from the capital, Mbabane.

Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera
Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/
Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/
Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.io/AJEMobile

@AljazeeraEnglish
#AlJazeeraEnglish
#News
#Eswatini #EswatiniMonarchy #HumanRights

Civil society groups in the Kingdom of Eswatini are calling for more protests this week, to push for political reforms on King Mswati III's 30 year-long absolute monarchy.

The country which remains under curfew has recently been rocked by a series of protests that turned violent. Dozens of people were killed and millions of dollars' worth of property damaged.

The BBC has been speaking to people across the country who told stories of excessive violence by security forces. Shingai Nyoka reports from Johannesburg.

Please subscribe HERE http://bit.ly/1rbfUog

#BBCNews

Voters in Eswatini began casting their ballots on Friday for legislative elections taking place in Africa's last absolute monarchy.



READ MORE : https://[a]www.africanews.com%2F2023%2F09%2F29%2Feswatini-voters-cast-their-ballots-in-legislative-elections[/a]

Subscribe on our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/afri....canews?sub_confirmat and receive all the latest news from the continent.

Africanews is available in English and French.
Website : www.africanews.com
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/africanews.channel/
Twitter : https://twitter.com/africanews

#AfNews

At least 21 people have been allegedly killed by Eswatini's security forces during pro-democracy protests, the Swaziland Youth Congress (Swayoco) said on Wednesday. Mduduzi Gawzela Simelane shares more.

For more news, visit sabcnews.com and also #SABCNews #Coronavirus #COVID19News on Social Media.

SADC organ on politics defence and security convened a one-day meeting in Namibia today. The summit discussed amongst other issues the political and security challenges in Eswatini.
Last week Human Rights Lawyer Thulani Maseko was assassinated at his house. There are unconfirmed reports that the SADF soldiers have been hired as mercenaries by King Mswati III. Eswatini has experienced violent protests since activists and Human Rights lawyers have called for political reforms in that country.
For more on this, we are joined by Mlungisi Makhanya, PUDEMO president.

For more news, visit sabcnews.com and #SABCNews on all Social Media platforms.

Africa's last absolute monarchy celebrated Wednesday 55 years of independence from Britain. King Mswati III of Eswatini paraded to cheering crowds gathered at the Somhlolo National Stadium in Lobamba.

READ MORE : https://[a]www.africanews.com%2F2023%2F09%2F07%2Feswatini-celebrates-55-years-of-independence[/a]

Subscribe on our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/afri....canews?sub_confirmat and receive all the latest news from the continent.

Africanews is available in English and French.
Website : www.africanews.com
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/africanews.channel/
Twitter : https://twitter.com/africanews

#AfNews

Economic Freedom Fighters President Julius Malema says parliamentary elections that took place yesterday in the Kingdom of Eswatini were a derision of democracy.

The party previously called for the country's monarchy to implement democratic reforms.

Political parties were banned from participating in the elections, with only individual candidates allowed to run for seats in the House of the Assembly. Malema says they want a democratic Eswatini.

He spoke to the SABC on the sidelines of an event to celebrate his party's victory in the ward by-elections in Wolmaranstad, North West.

For more news, visit sabcnews.com and #SABCNews on all Social Media platforms.

Eswatini human rights lawyer, Sibusiso Nhlabatsi, says he lives in fear following the January murder of his colleague and mentor, Thulani Maseko.

READ MORE : https://[a]www.africanews.com%2F2023%2F10%2F01%2Feswatini-human-rights-lawyers-says-he-lives-in-fear[/a]

Subscribe on our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/afri....canews?sub_confirmat and receive all the latest news from the continent.

Africanews is available in English and French.
Website : www.africanews.com
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/africanews.channel/
Twitter : https://twitter.com/africanews

#AfNews

"The army and the police killed one person at about 3pm today," union president Oscar Nkambule said. Fifty of its members were taken to hospital in the capital Mbabane, with another 30 hospitalised in the city of Manzini, including some with gunshot wounds, he added.


READ MORE : https://[a]www.africanews.com%2F2021%2F10%2F21%2Feswatini-at-least-one-dead-80-injured-from-pro-democracy-protests[/a]

Subscribe on our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/afri....canews?sub_confirmat and receive all the latest news from the continent.

Africanews is available in English and French.
Website : www.africanews.com
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/africanews.channel/
Twitter : https://twitter.com/africanews

#AfNews

The EFF Swaziland has called on the high commission of Eswatini to ensure that their demands are met. They picketed outside the diplomatic mission in Pretoria as part of pushing for democratic reforms in the kingdom. The pro-democracy activists have called on the SADC Bloc to prioritise their concerns.

SABC reporter Khayelihle Khumalo updates.


For more news, visit sabcnews.com and #SABCNews on all Social Media platforms.