Introduction
Eswatini, Africa’s last absolute monarchy, is facing intensified repression under King Mswati III. In recent months, state security forces have violently disrupted peaceful gatherings organised by political groups, trade unions and civil society, using excessive force, arbitrary arrests and torture.
Association
Police disrupt opposition party meeting
On 29th March 2025, eSwatini police officers from the Operational Support Services Unit (OSSU) disrupted and halted a political meeting organised by the opposition party PUDEMO at Caritas-Manzini. The police rushed in after media reports suggested the meeting was ongoing at Caritas, after it had previously been stopped at the SNAT Centre. Witnesses describe a heavy police presence surrounding the venue, followed by unprovoked attacks and intimidation on attendees.
On a separate occasion at the same venue, Sergeant Dumsile Khumalo, Secretary-General of the Royal Eswatini Police Staff Association (REPOSA), was detained after attempting to hold a meeting with junior officers regarding their Phase II salary increment. Police first took her to the Ezulwini Police Post and then to an unknown location. The South African Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) condemned the detention as part of a broader campaign of suppression against union activism within the police.
Police disrupt thanksgiving event amid alleged royal orders
On 3rd May 2025, heavily armed police officers raided and disrupted Siphofaneni Member of Parliament (MP) Lomalungelo 'LaZwide' Simelane's thanksgiving event, allegedly on an order by KaMkhweli Royal Kraal. The MP was reportedly distributing blankets to elderly citizens when police stormed the gathering, preventing her from engaging with the community.
The United Eswatini Diaspora (UED) condemned the harassment of MP Lomalungelo LaZwide Simelane, calling it a violation of democratic rights.
Peaceful Assembly
Students attacked during peaceful protest over fellow student’s alleged suicide
On 11th April 2025, students at the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) held a peaceful protest in memory of 22-year-old Farido Singwa, a second-year Bachelor of Arts in Humanities student from Sigombeni, who allegedly took his own life on 6th April 2025 following a fallout with a lecturer identified as Mr Ngubeni. During the protest, university security violently attacked students using whips. The situation escalated when the police arrived and allegedly shot student leader Kwanele Fakudze, Chairperson of the Youth and Students Commission of the Communist Party of Swaziland, with rubber bullets at close range. Fakudze lost consciousness and was abducted along with two other students. Other student activists, including Gcinizwi Sifundza and Machawe Gcashula, were also reportedly assaulted.
On 1st July 2025, it was reported that UNESWA’s authorities had cleared the lecturer suspected of mistreating Farido Singwa after an internal investigation.