Association
PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS AND YOUTH LEADERS FACE ESCALATING CRACKDOWN
Authorities in Eswatini intensified their crackdown on pro-democracy activists with reports of arrests, alleged abductions, intimidation, surveillance and criminal prosecutions targeting youth leaders, student activists and members of opposition movements. The actions occurred against a backdrop of heightened political tensions ahead of King Mswati III's birthday celebrations and the commemoration of his 40 years on the throne. Pro-democracy organisations alleged that the security forces increasingly relied on intimidation, criminal charges and harassment to suppress dissent and discourage political mobilisation.
On 10th April 2026, Ncamiso Nxumalo, Deputy President of the Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO), the youth wing of the People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), was reportedly abducted by police at the Eswatini College of Technology (ECOT) during a protest organised by the Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS). The demonstration opposed forms introduced by the police, the Ministry of Education and the Acting College Principal that required students to pledge that they would not participate in future protests.
On 13th April 2026, Eswatini police officers were deployed to Nhlangano after SWAYOCO published photographs on Facebook claiming that wanted SWAYOCO leaders, including Nontsetselelo "Ntsentse" Nkambule and Nhlanhla Magongo, were attending a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Nhlangano. According to media reports, the posts were intended to create the impression that the leaders were attending a meeting inside Eswatini. However, the meeting had reportedly taken place in Johannesburg, South Africa, and the deployed officers were unable to locate either the meeting or the activists.
On 15th April 2026, Nontsetselelo Ncamsile Nkambule, Treasurer General of SWAYOCO, was declared wanted by police on charges of kidnapping and attempted murder. SWAYOCO and PUDEMO rejected the allegations, describing them as politically motivated and intended to silence pro-democracy activists. They argued that the charges formed part of a broader campaign to suppress dissent ahead of the royal celebrations.
The pattern of intimidation continued into June 2026. On 6th June, it was reported that Fanelo "Lioness" Sibandze, Deputy Secretary General of the Multi-Stakeholder Forum (MSF), alleged that her family was targeted because of her pro-democracy activism. According to reports, her mother was repeatedly approached by unknown men and warned to persuade Sibandze to abandon her political activities. After confronting the individuals, she was allegedly poisoned and required hospital treatment. Both Sibandze and her mother maintained that the attack was politically motivated and reflected a broader pattern of intimidation against pro-democracy activists and their families.
AUTHORITIES BAN TRADE UNION'S MAY DAY CELEBRATION
On 1st May 2026, authorities in Eswatini prohibited the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) from holding its planned International Workers' Day (May Day) celebration at the Hlathikhulu Central High School sports ground in the Shiselweni region. The government justified the ban on public safety grounds, while the Regional Administrator also argued that permission for the venue fell under the authority of the local chief. TUCOSWA rejected these reasons, stating that it had complied with the Public Order Act by notifying the relevant authorities more than 20 days in advance and argued that the Regional Administrator, not the chief, had the legal authority over the venue. An urgent application to overturn the ban was dismissed by the Shiselweni Magistrate Court on 30th April 2026 on procedural grounds.
Peaceful Assembly
POLICE BLOCK PEACEFUL PUBLIC SECTOR PROTEST
Citing financial constraints, on 15th April 2026, the Government announced that it would suspend the annual salary notch increases that were due under a 2025 Salary Review Collective Agreement signed between Government of Eswatini and the Public Sector Unions (PSUs). The Public Sector Unions argued that this decision violated the Collective Agreement and organised a legally authorised protest march to deliver a petition to the Prime Minister's Office.
On 20th April 2026, armed police blocked the peaceful march by establishing roadblocks and preventing workers from reaching Mbabane, effectively stopping them from delivering their petition. According to labour rights organisations, the government's actions infringed upon workers' rights to freedom of assembly and peaceful protest. The suspension of the annual salary increments affected more than 44,000 public servants across Eswatini. These included teachers, nurses, administrative personnel and other civil servants whose expected salary progression was delayed despite the earlier agreement. Workers argued that the suspension further reduced their purchasing power at a time when the cost of living remained high.
Public Services International (PSI) condemned the deployment of armed police to stop a peaceful and legally authorised demonstration and called on the Government of Eswatini to honour the 2025 Collective Agreement, restore the annual salary increments and respect workers' constitutional rights to freedom of association and peaceful assembly.