Maseko Assassination Sparks Call to Take on King Mswati
The human rights landscape in Africa's last remaining absolute monarchy remains characterised by serious human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and repression of pro-democracy activists.
The assassination of human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko to be killed has again sparked a challenge from civil society organisations to King Mswati, who they accuse of involvement in the murder. The government has criticized speculation it may have been responsible and has pledged to investigate, Voice of America reports.
Previously protests escalated in 2021 but were met with deadly force from the police and the army.
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Eswatini:
Thulani Maseko's Assassination Roils Eswatini's Democracy Project
ISS, 27 January 2023
The murder of the human rights defender and political activist could be a turning point - but which way? Read more »
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Eswatini:
'Bring It On!' - Pro-Democracy Groups Take On King Mswati
Scrolla, 24 January 2023
As tributes pour in for human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko, who was murdered in eSwatini on Saturday, pro-democracy groups have told King Mswati III to "bring it on". Read more »
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Eswatini:
Govt Hits Back at Accusations It Was Involved in Activist's Death
VOA, 24 January 2023
The government of Eswatini has criticized speculation it may have been responsible for the killing of well-known human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko and has pledged to investigate.… Read more »
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Eswatini:
Thulani Maseko Assassination Needs Urgent Investigation
Africa In Fact, 24 January 2023
Thulani Maseko, a leading human rights lawyer in Eswatini, was shot dead in his home in Manzini on Saturday evening. His wife, Tanele Maseko, and children were with him when he… Read more »
InFocus
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Messages of condolences and condemnation have been streaming in for human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko, who was murdered outside his home in eSwatini, formerly known as Swaziland, by unknown assailants. The human rights lawyer chaired the Multi-Stakeholders Forum (MSF), a collaboration of political parties and civil society groups working to amplify calls for democratic reforms.
Maseko was also a columnist who
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Human rights watchdogs have called for the immediate and unconditional release of eSwatini members of parliament Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube. The two were detained on July 25, 2021 following protests demanding political reforms and were charged under the Suppression of Terrorism Act and for flouting Covid-19 regulations.
Pro-democracy protests started in June 2021 in the Kingdom of eSwatini
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Inaction and in speech, the ruler of eSwatini and his government refuse to listen to the mass democratic movement's demands for a genuine dialogue.
The emotional and physical scarring of the torture and intimidation that students endured at the hands of security forces in eSwatini hadn't healed when King Mswati III preached about peace and the need for dialogue. Mswati, in the official opening of the fourth session of the country's 11th Parliament, claimed to "discourage
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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ on Defence, Politics and Security Cooperation, has appointed Special Envoys to engage with King Mswati III of the Kingdom of eSwatini on security and political developments there. Fresh pro-democracy protests have flared up again, months after authorities quashed a round of protests in mid-2021.
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(File photo).
