JOHANNESBURG – The South African government has urged calm and restraint in Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, which has been engulfed by pro-democracy protests this week amid growing reports of state violence against demonstrators.
Protesters are demanding democratic reforms and accused King Mswati III, who has ruled the tiny mountain kingdom for more than 30 years as an absolute monarch, of repression.
Rights groups accused the royal family, including the king’s 15 wives, of enjoying a lavish lifestyle while many of the country’s 1.1 million people live in poverty.
The cities of Mbabane and Mazini have reportedly been the most affected by the protests, which have seen demonstrators barricading roads and setting fires, often at businesses owned or linked to the royal family.(AP)
