A SADC delegation arrived in Eswatini on Sunday to try and quell the violent pro-democracy protests that have rocked the tiny kingdom and left at least 20 people dead.
The delegation is led by Botswana’s Dr. Lemohang Kwape, international affairs minister, who is representing Chairperson Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi.
Before he dispatched the SADC envoys, Dr. Masisi issued a statement condemning the violence.
“SADC calls upon all individuals, groups, and organisations that have grievances to desist from acts of violence,” said Masisi.
He also urged the security services to exercise restraint in their response to restore order and normalcy.
For more than a week, protesters have been involved in running battles with police and army members.
Buildings of businesses thought to be owned by King Mswati III have been set alight and in retaliation, soldiers have shot at protesters.
Amnesty International has expressed concern at the levels of violence in Eswatini.
“The government of Eswatini has launched a full-frontal assault on human rights in response to ongoing pro-democracy protests,” said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International’s Director for East and Southern Africa.
“Dozens of people have been killed for daring to demand that their government respects human rights, many of them human rights defenders and activists.”
The rights body said as many as 20 people had been killed by state security forces. Six protesters remain unaccounted for.
At least 150 protesters have been hospitalised for injuries, including gunshot wounds sustained from live ammunition fired by the police.
“We are urging authorities in Eswatini to end this escalating crackdown, and ensure that people can peacefully exercise their human rights including by allowing them to freely express their opinions without fear of violent retaliation,” the rights body said on Friday.
Pro-democracy activists want to end the grip of the monarchy on the tiny kingdom.
Eswatini’s Information Minister Sikhanyiso Dlamini, who is the king’s daughter, denies that soldiers killed protesters and instead blames “foreign mercenaries”.
