Background
Eswatini remained an absolute monarchy under King Mswati III, with political parties, including the main opposition People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) party, banned. Courts continued to hear terrorism-related cases arising from the 2021-2022 pro-democracy protests.
Eswatini became one of several African countries to enter a bilateral arrangement to accept non-nationals deported from the USA (see below, Refugees’ and migrants’ rights).
Arbitrary arrests and detentions
On 5 November, Mthandeni Dube was released from prison following a royal pardon. The conditions of his release prevented him from interacting with the press, using social media or attending social gatherings, among other things, until the expiry of his sentence. In July 2024, Mthandeni Dube had been sentenced along with Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza to 18 and 25 years, respectively, under provisions in the 2008 Suppression of Terrorism Act (STA). The former MPs were prisoners of conscience held for their peaceful participation in protests during 2021 that demanded reform. Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza remained in prison.
On 5 May the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal brought by Menzi Bongeka Bhembe and Bonginkosi Bongo Nkambule against a High Court decision to refuse them bail. They had been arrested in January 2024 and charged under the STA in connection with the September 2022 pro-democracy protests. Authorities alleged that they burned the national flag at the University of Eswatini and damaged a police vehicle near the administrative capital, Mbabane. They remained in pretrial detention.
Refugees and migrants
The US and Eswatini governments reached an agreement under which 15 third-country nationals residing in the USA were deported to Eswatini, placing them at risk of arbitrary detention, ill-treatment and refoulement. All were held without charge and denied confidential access to legal counsel.
On 16 July, Roberto Mosquera Del Peral, Kassim Saleh Wasil, Dung Tien Nguyen, Phone Chomsavanh and Orville Etoria were detained on arrival from the USA at Matsapha Correctional Complex. On 25 September, Orville Etoria was repatriated to Jamaica, his country of birth, while the others remained in detention. On 6 October, a second flight carrying 10 deportees arrived in Eswatini. The detentions drew international and regional criticism from the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The Commission expressed concern at the lack of transparency surrounding the agreement and the lack of adequate protections for deportees in receiving countries.
Freedom of peaceful assembly
On 29 March, police halted and banned a PUDEMO party meeting in the city of Manzini. Party members had gathered to discuss the lack of reforms, continuing repression of government critics and the party’s strategy for its upcoming campaign.
Right to truth, justice and reparation
No credible progress was made in the investigation into the January 2023 extrajudicial killing of human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko. Authorities did not publish findings, nor hold any suspected perpetrators to account. Meanwhile, reports of intimidation by authorities of independent lawyers and judges continued.
Impunity for abuses by security forces during the June 2021 protests persisted, and human rights groups renewed their calls for independent investigations and reparations for victims and their families.
Gender-based violence
According to Afrobarometer, 41% of people from Eswatini identified gender-based violence as the most important women’s rights issue in the country. Afrobarometer also highlighted the persistent risk of sexual violence faced by girls and women. Meanwhile, the government failed to adequately protect women and girls from abuses or provide support for survivors.
