At least one person has been seriously injured after officers of the Royal Eswatini Police Service fired rubber bullets at protesters in Mbabane, the capital.
The demonstrators were reportedly protesting the arrests of two parliamentarians – Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube – who had recently called for political reforms in Eswatini, one of the world’s remaining absolute monarchs.
The MPs were arrested on Sunday and accused of inciting violent protests. A court that was expected to rule on their application for bail has delayed its judgement.
Both parliamentarians had called for an elected rather than appointed Prime Minister among other changes. But, in June, the government banned citizens from delivering petitions to support this demand sparking violent protests that killed at least 50 people.
King Mswati III, who came to the Eswatini throne 35 years ago, rules by decree. The 53-year-old and his 15 wives have been accused by critics of livng a lavish lifestyle and treating opponents harshly.
In May 2021, violence had erupted after the decomposing body of a law student, Thabani Nkomonye, was found outside the city of Manzini.
Students claimed police officers were involved in Nkomonye’s death. The Royal Eswatini Police Service denied the allegation, insisting the student died in a car accident.
Unsatisfied, students and other citizens had protested on social media under the hashtag, #JusticeforThabani, and called for an end to police brutality. The protests eventually developed into calls for political reforms.
In response to the ban on the submission of petitions requesting change, demonstrators marched with banners and chanted slogans calling on King Mswati to recognise democracy.