2021–2023 Eswatini protests

The first protests took place on 20 June when rural youth in Manzini Region went through a village shouting political slogans and calling for the right to a democratically chosen prime minister. They blocked roads and set tyres on fire. Police reacted to these demonstrations by deploying stun grenades and firing live bullets, leading to protesters retaliating by throwing rocks.[17]

The protests spread and escalated into violence on 25 June in Msunduza township, near Mbabane, as demonstrators "clashed" with police and stores were looted and burned.[11] As thousands of people delivered petitions to tinkhundla authorities, who are democratically appointed in a "devolved" system, the government stopped them from being delivered, raising controversy from the national teachers union and leading to further unrest.[18][19]

On the night of 28–29 June, it was speculated that King Mswati III had fled Eswatini amidst increasing disorder.[20] The government denied these reports.[21] However, it was reported that his private plane had been spotted departing the country.[22][23] The Communist Party of Swaziland claimed that he had fled to South Africa, while the Swaziland Solidarity Network said that he was in Mozambique and had instructed security forces to "brutally suppress" the protests.[24][25] On 29 June 2021, the demonstrations continued with police trying to repel the protesters with gunfire and tear gas with both the riot police and the army present on the streets. Police also set blockades across the capital and the government closed schools and bus stations.[26] A curfew was put into place between 18:00 and 5:00 by the government to try to rout the violence, and business and schools were made to close.[27] Despite this, protests and looting continued on the 30th, and the police and army used deadly force against demonstrators, with internet access becoming limited.[8]

The army was officially called in on 1 July to "protect critical national infrastructure and enforce the COVID-19 regulations", according to acting Prime Minister, Themba Masuku, who also state that this didn't mean martial law was in place.[28]

As of late September, high school and university students were still protesting by launching a series of strikes.[29]

On 1 October, thousands of protesters marched to the embassy of the United States in Mbabane to deliver a petition. Security forces dispersed the crowd with rubber bullets, teargas and live ammunition. One protester was reportedly shot in the head by police outside parliament.[30]

On 22 October,[31] police violently suppressed a protest of civil servants, injuring 30 nurses. In response, the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SDNU) issued a statement that nurses are no longer treating police officers.[32]

Over the course of 2022, smaller protests organized by pro-democracy activists and other interest groups continued.[5] In February, university students protested for scholarships and refund of hostels fees; security forces responded by arresting and torturing a number of student union leaders. In March, the Communist Party started an anti-monarchy campaign dubbed "Turn Up the Heat" including a number of rallies which were forcibly broken up by police. In April, police put down more student protests on university campuses in Mbabane and Manzini using teargas.[33]

In November, a series of larger protests occurred. Unrest began when police officers entered the Prime Minister's estate to demand pay rises, while a royal relative, Chief Prince Mahloma of Zandondo, was murdered on 5 November. Two days later, a pro-democracy militant group called "Swaziland International Solidarity Forces" committed a number of attacks on police outposts, trucks, food stores, and government buildings across the country.[5] On 10 November, about 100 minibus and bus drivers protested in Manzini for the release of four colleagues. However, the protest turned violent, with the protestors looting shops and burning a police station. The army was called in, and opened fire. Three people were injured.[34]

Unrest continued in 2023. On 21 January, human rights lawyer and leading pro-democracy activist Thulani Maseko was murdered by gunmen at his home, provoking outrage not just in Eswatini but also internationally. Hours before the killing, King Mswati III had held a speech at the Engabezweni royal residence, declaring that the pro-democracy activists had "started the violence first" and "more trouble was coming for them".[35]

In 2021, at the border city of Oshoek, hundreds of trucks were stranded due to allegations of protesters targeting imports and the loss of Internet connections halting entry processing. The South African National Defence Force was requested to prevent further violence and losses by putting the trucks under their protection.[36] On 1 July, the Economic Freedom Fighters forced the checkpoint in Mananga to close in support of the protests.[37]