Umamah Bakharia | ub@radioislam.co.za

2 min read
3 February 2023 | 11:53 CAT

Leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are calling on the Kingdom of Eswatini to urgently initiate a national dialogue as tensions continue to rise in the region.

Picture: Daily Sabah

The SADC leaders convened a regional bloc troika meeting in Windhoek, Namibia this week, where they condemned the assassination of Eswatini human rights activist Thulani Maseko.

The bloc leaders say they want a thorough investigation of the murder of Maseko.

Political tension in Eswatini, Africa’s last absolute monarchy, remain a challenge for SADC since 2021 as protest erupted over the leadership of King Mswati III.

In June 2021 , at least 37 people were killed in violently suppressed anti-regime demonstrations, since then protests and strikes have continued quietly.

According to Eswatini laws, the king can dissolve parliament, the government and appoint or dismiss judges. He also commands the police and the army.

King Mswati III did not attend the extraordinary SADC troika meeting in Namibia.

Meanwhile, the leaders also discussed the current situation in northern Mozambique as it battles insurgency, the eruptive situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and called on Lesotho to expedite reforms meant to bring it stability.