Issue and Opponent: Eswatini has an absolute monarchy and has been under the rule of King Mswati III since 1986. The ruling monarchy did not want political parties and banned them in 1973 and the system continues. The King is the one and supreme authority to select government ministers and control the parliament, The new constitution that was adopted in 2005 mandates that no political parties should fight elections for Assembly and Senate seats. This is blatantly undemocratic and the protesters are demanding that free and fair elections should be held and that monarchy should be replaced.
Dilemma Action: Protesters gathered in large groups and blocked roads. This was clearly against the law since gatherings of more than 5 people are illegal in Eswatini. This is part of a larger campaign. The demonstrators demanded multi-party democracy and an elected prime minister. These public assemblies or mass gatherings of angry citizens occurred at the engagement stage of the campaign to abolish the absolute monarchy and hold free and fair elections.
Outcomes: Protesters faced push-backs and assaults from law enforcement. According to the new reports, police fired tear gas, stun grenades, rubber bullets, and water cannons at the protesters to distract and disintegrate the gatherings. The army was also called in to prevent the protesters from gathering in large numbers, only to aggravate people’s anger towards the monarchy. The non-violent protesters were forced to defend themselves by throwing rocks at the police and the army in response to the assaults they faced.