By Zuleikha Ahmed
05:07:2021

The landlocked, impoverished kingdom of Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, has been rocked by days of violent clashes between security forces and demonstrators calling for democratic reforms.

Radio Islam International hosted Mufti Feroz Ismail, who provided a synopsis of the situation unfolding in the country.

He described the country as being at a standstill, with security alerts very high as citizens anticipated a day of rioting. The atmosphere is very tense, with businesses closed and security upgraded.

He described the previous week when the protests began on Monday as a war zone.

Giving context to how and why the protests began, Mufti Ismail said that there were initially grievances against the monarch, which morphed into pro-democracy demonstrations. However, he added that there seems to be much confusion in the problems and the protests’ direction.

Many Muslim-owned businesses had been looted, vandalised and burnt down. Mufti Ismail explained how this had impacted the people living in rural areas. Staple foods, as well as fuel, is in short supply as the majority of the businesses are Muslim owned, and many have lost everything.

He mentioned that many clergies from the Christian community apologised and empathised with the community as they witnessed the loss they had incurred.

Regarding the monarch’s whereabouts, Mufti Ismail says that there was no news regarding this, and the citizens are all waiting to hear more.

Mufti Ismail said he was grateful for the brotherhood and support that the South Africa Muslim community had provided. He also mentioned that due to the banks and businesses being closed, borders still gridlocked, and the internet intermittently working, it was challenging to request or receive aid.

However, they worked with different groups to ensure that food and other items were packed and distributed to those in need.

Like most other residents, he is waiting for the outcome of the meetings with African leaders and talks with the different factions involved before they have a clearer picture of where the country stood sometime today.

Listen to the interview here.