After African mediation, Eswatini king calls for calm

Africa’s last absolute monarch yesterday called for calm and dialogue in the kingdom of Eswatini following a visit by regional mediators to try resolve a national crisis and deadly unrest.Formerly known as Swaziland, the country has been rocked by anti-monarchy demonstrations that broke out in June and have prompted authorities to deploy the army and shut down the Internet.The latest flare-up has run for more than two weeks, spearheaded by students, civil servants and transport workers.At least two people were killed and dozens injured as security forces fired tear gas, live rounds and rubber bullets to disperse crowds.Themba Ginindza, a senior representative of the king, said via the government Twitter account that “King Mswati III has announced that a process of national dialogue will be initiated” after an annual ritual ceremony that starts in November and usually lasts several months.During the ceremony known as Incwala, the king goes into seclusion and does not engage in official government activities.Ginindza said the king wanted calm, and “an end to all violence as no dialogue can happen while tempers are this high”.“His majesty has sent us to pass our sincere condolences to all who have lost loved ones during the unrest,” said Ginindza.Police said 37 people have died since the violent anti-monarchy protests first flared in June, fuelled by discontent over living conditions and lack of political freedom in the tiny southern African kingdom.But local civic group Leftu Sonkhe Institute of Strategic Thinking and Development suggests the unrest has so far claimed around 80 lives.On Thursday, the government banned all protests.Mediators from the 16-nation Southern African Development Community concluded two-day mediation talks with the king, government and civil society groups on Friday.In a statement yesterday, SADC’s head of politics and defence, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, backed the idea of a national dialogue.“I appeal for calm, restraint, the respect for the rule of law and human rights on all sides to enable the process to commence,” said Ramaphosa.But political groups are not optimistic about the outcome of the proposed talks.The dialogues have “failed countless times before,” Sibongile Mazibuko, who heads the Ngwane National Liberation Congress political party, said.“The environment is not conducive” he said, alleging royalty controls who participates in the talks.