End the crackdown on freedom of expression in Eswatini

Over the past months, over 80 people have been confirmed dead in Eswatini in the ruthless crackdown on human rights launched by the authorities in response to pro-democracy protests. Take action now and demand the end of the crackdown on the right to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.

At least 80 people have been killed while over 200 people have been hospitalized to date. Over a thousand were reported arbitrarily arrested and detained. Some of them were subsequently released but many are still held on trumped-up charges, particularly the Suppression of Terrorism Act and Public Order Act.

Protests began in the Kingdom of Eswatini, following the mysterious death of 25-year-old law student, Thabani Nkomonye in May, allegedly at the hands of the police. His body was found on a field about 10km outside Manzini –  the country’s largest urban center. Protesters, led by young activists, are demanding reform in a country where political activism has been suppressed for years.

Eswatini is the last absolute monarchy on the African continent, and authorities use repressive laws, including the 1938 Sedition and Subversive Activities Act (SSA Act) and the 2008 Suppression of Terrorism Act (STA), to silence critics. Journalists, human rights defenders, and political activists have been jailed simply for speaking out against this repression of dissent for many years.

Prime Minister Cleopas Dlamini must immediately instruct the Eswatini Royal Police and army to cease the use of live ammunition and tear gas, and all other forms of excessive force to crack down on peaceful protestors.

Join our supporters and members in demanding that all peaceful protestors arrested by the Eswatini Royal Police on trumped-up charges, particularly the Suppression of Terrorism Act and Public Order Act, are released and all charges against them dropped.

Send an email to Prime Minister Cleopas Dlamini to demand an end to the crackdown on the right to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.