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Eswatini,formally the Kingdom of Eswatini and also known by its former official name Swaziland and formerly the Kingdom of Swaziland,is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its north,west,south,and southeast. At no more than 200 km (120 mi) north to south and 130 km (81 mi) east to west,Eswatini is one of the smallest countries in Africa;despite this,its climate and topography are diverse,ranging from a cool and mountainous highveld to a hot and dry lowveld.
Artifacts indicating human activity dating back to the early Stone Age have been found in the Kingdom of Eswatini. The earliest known inhabitants of the region were Khoisan hunter-gatherers. Later,the population became predominantly Nguni during and after the great Bantu migrations. People speaking languages ancestral to the current Sotho and Nguni languages began settling no later than the 11th century. The country now derives its name from a later king named Mswati II. Mswati II was the greatest of the fighting kings of Eswatini,and he greatly extended the area of the country to twice its current size. The people of Eswatini largely belong to a number of clans that can be categorized as Emakhandzambili,Bemdzabu,and Emafikamuva,depending on when and how they settled in Eswatini.
Mbabane is the most populous city in Eswatini,and is one of the two capitals,serving as the executive capital.
Mswati III is the Ngwenyama (King) of Eswatini and head of the Swazi royal family. He heads an absolute monarchy,as he has veto power over all branches of government and is constitutionally immune from prosecution.
The Swazi or Swati are a Bantu ethnic group native to Southern Africa,inhabiting Eswatini,a sovereign kingdom in Southern Africa,and South Africa's Mpumalanga province. AmaSwati are part of the Nguni-language speaking peoples whose origins can be traced through archaeology to East Africa where similar traditions,beliefs and cultural practices are found.
The People's United Democratic Movement is the largest opposition party in Eswatini. It is a democratic socialist party. Formed in 1983 at the University of Eswatini,it is led by Mlungisi Makhanya.
Mario Thembeka Masuku was a Swazi politician who was the leader of the People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO),Eswatini's banned opposition party.
Prince Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini was a Swazi politician who served as Prime Minister of Eswatini,from 1996 to 2003 and again from October 2008 to September 2018.
Lesbian,gay,bisexual,transgender,and queer (LGBTQ) people in Eswatini have limited legal rights. According to Rock of Hope,a Swati LGBTQ advocacy group,"there is no legislation recognising LGBTIs or protecting the right to a non-heterosexual orientation and gender identity and as a result [LGBTQ people] cannot be open about their orientation or gender identity for fear of rejection and discrimination." Homosexuality is illegal in Eswatini,though this law is in practice unenforced. According to the 2021 Human Rights Practices Report from the US Department of State,"there has never been an arrest or prosecution for consensual same-sex conduct."
Sipho Jele was a member of the banned Swazi political party People's United Democratic Movement (Pudemo) as well as the Swaziland Agricultural and Plantations Workers Union (SAPWU),part of the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU). He died in police custody in Swaziland,after having been arrested on 1 May 2010,at the SFTU May Day celebrations,for having worn a T-shirt with a Pudemo logo. Sipho Jele was found hanging from the rafters of a toilet at the Sidvwashini Correctional facility where he was being held on 4 May.
In Eswatini,no king can appoint his successor. Instead,on the demise of a king,the Liqoqo,an independent traditional council,decides which of his wives shall be "great wife" and Indlovukazi,'She-Elephant'. The son of the chosen Indlovukazi will automatically become the next king.
Sibonelo Mngometulu,known as Inkhosikati LaMbikiza,is the third and senior wife of King Mswati III of Eswatini. Sibonelo married Mswati III in 1986,becoming the first wife he personally chose to marry,following two ceremonious marriages. She is the mother of Princess Sikhanyiso Dlamini and Prince Lindani Dlamini.
Thulani Rudolf Maseko was a Swazi human rights lawyer who previously served as the Secretary General of the People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO). He was imprisoned from 2014 to 2015,and declared a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International. He launched a court challenge to King Mswati III of Eswatini in 2018 and was assassinated in 2023.
Zingiswa Phyllis Losi is a South African politician and trade unionist who is currently serving as the president of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) since September 2018. She was formerly Cosatu's second deputy president from 2009 to 2018. She is a member of the Central Committee of the South African Communist Party (SACP) and a former member of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress (ANC).
Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini was a Swazi business executive who served as the tenth prime minister of Eswatini,holding the office from October 2018 until his death on 13 December 2020.
The history of the Jews of Eswatini,formerly Swaziland.
A series of protests in Eswatini against the absolute monarchy and for democratisation began in late June 2021. Starting as a peaceful protest on 20 June,they escalated after 25 June into violence and looting over the weekend when the government took a hardline stance against the demonstrations and prohibited the delivery of petitions. Lower-level unrest and protests continued until summer 2023.
Mzwandile Masuku is a Swazi Human Rights lawyer and the son of the late prominent opposition leader,Mario Masuku.
Tanele Maseko is a Swazi human rights activist and the widow of the prominent human rights lawyer and democracy activist Thulani Maseko. Following her husband's assassination in 2023,Maseko has become a prominent campaigner both with regards to continuing her husband's activism promoting democratic reform in Eswatini,and also by calling for an independent investigation into his death,for which she has received harassment and intimidation from Swazi authorities.
Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza is a Swazi politician and pro-democracy activist. Formerly a member of the House of Assembly of Eswatini,he was arrested during the 2021 protests,and in 2024 was sentenced to 25 years in prison on charges of terrorism,sedition,and murder,in a trial condemned by national and international human rights organisations.
References
- ↑ PUDEMO elects new leadership, Peter Kenworthy, Pambazuka News, 13 September 2018
- ↑ MAKHANYA RE-ELECTED PUDEMO PRESIDENT, Mhlonishwa Motsa, Times of Eswatini, 26 February 2023
- ↑ Mlungisi Makhanya re-elected PUDEMO President, Ntombi Mhlongo, Eswatini Daily News, 26 February 2023
- ↑ Give Chitsunge a befitting send-off, best revenge is voting out Zanu PF – Swaziland’s opposition leader tells Zimbabweans, NewZimbabwe.com, 8 August 2023
- ↑ MARIO RETAINS PUDEMO PRESIDENCY, Sibusiso Zwane, Times of Eswatini, 27 February 2014
- ↑ Swaziland: Africa's last absolute monarchy, Philipp Sandner, DW, 14 July 2014
- ↑ Makhanya and Others v King (181 of 2014) [2014 SZHC 100], ESwatiniLII, 5 May 2014
- ↑ Opposition leaders, activists arrested in Swaziland, Business Day, 24 April 2014
- ↑ COSATU: Statement by the Congress of South African Trade Union, condemns arrest of PUDEMO Secretary General in Swaziland , COSATU, Polity, 25 April 2014
- ↑ Swaziland opposition leaders, activists detained, AFP , 24 April 2014
- ↑ Maseko and Others v Prime Minister of Swaziland and Others, ESwatiniLII, 16 September 2016
- ↑ Mlungisi challenges anti-terror law in court, Peter Kenworthy, Pambazuka News, 18 September 2014
- ↑ Historic Swazi court judgment striking down parts of sedition and terrorism laws is under threat, Peter Fabricius, Daily Maverick, 29 September 2022
- ↑ Eswatini: Major setback as Supreme Court upholds repressive Suppression of Terrorism Act, Amnesty International, 14 August 2024
- ↑ Eswatini: Supreme Court decision upholding repressive security laws is a blow to human rights, ICJ – International Commission of Jurists, 30 August 2024
- ↑ Residence of Swazi pro-democracy leader bombed by alleged state-sponsored hit-squad. People's Dispatch, 21 September 2022
- ↑ King Mswati’s security officers planted bombs inside PUDEMO President’s home in an assassination attempt., Zweli Martin Dlamini, Swaziland News, 20 September 2022
- ↑ ESWATINI: AUTHORITIES ESCALATE CRACKDOWN ON DISSENT, Amnesty International, 28 September 2022
- ↑ E1.5M DAMAGE AFTER PUDEMO PRESIDENT’S HOME TORCHED, Thokozani Mamba, Times of Eswatini, 21 September 2022
- ↑ EFF STATEMENT ON REPORTED BOMBING OF THE HOUSE OF PUDEMO PRESIDENT MLUNGISI MAKHANYA, Economic Freedom Fighters, 12 September, 2022
- ↑ NUMSA CONDEMNS THE ARSON ATTACK ON THE PRESIDENT OF PUDEMO, National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa
- ↑ SouthernDefenders Strongly Condemns Deadly Grenade Attack on the home of Mlungisi Makhanya, President of PUDEMO, Southern Defenders, 22 September 2022
- ↑ ATTACKS OF CONVENIENCE, Mbongeni Mbingo, Eswatini Observer, 26 September 2022
- ↑ Eswatini main opposition leader PUDEMO President Mlungisi Makhanya allegedly poisoned and rushed to hospital in a critical condition, was hunted by King Mswati’s undemocratic regime, Zweli Martin Dlamini, Swaziland News, 24 September 2024
- ↑ Eswatini opposition leader poisoned in South Africa - party, Wycliffe Muia, BBC, 25 September 2024
- ↑ Eswatini opposition leader in critical condition after alleged poisoning, Rachel Savage, The Guardian, 26 September 2024
- ↑ eSwatini opposition leader in poisoning scare, Jeanette Chabalala and Zweli Dlamini, Sowetan, 25 September 2024
- ↑ eSwatini opposition leader poisoned in alleged assassination attempt, Channel Africa, SABC News, 27 September 2024
- ↑ eSwatini's opposition party reveals Makhaya was poisoned with chemicals used for pest control, Jeanette Chabalala, Sowetan, 25 September 2024
- ↑ Eswatini opposition leader poisoned in alleged assassination attempt, Pamel Kaur, JURISTnews, 26 September 2024
- ↑ South Africa: Authorities must conduct an effective investigation into the alleged poisoning of Eswatini opposition leader Mlungisi Makhanya, ICJ – International Commission of Jurists, 3 October 2024
- ↑ THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS (ANC) CONDEMNS THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF PUDEMO, African National Congress, 4 October 2024
- ↑ EFF Statememt On The Poisoning Of Pudemo President Comrade Mlungisi Makhanya, Economic Freedom Fighters, 25 September 2024
- ↑ COSATU condemns the poisoning of PUDEMO President Mlungisi Makhanya , Congress of South African Trade Unions, 4 October 2024