Eswatini: Unknown Gunmen Kill Popular Opposition Leader

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Facts

  • Thulani Maseko, a prominent opposition political activist and human rights lawyer in Eswatini — formerly known as Swaziland — was shot dead on Saturday night by unknown gunmen at his home in Luhleko, some 50 km (30 miles) from the capital Mbabane.
  • Maseko, who had been sentenced to two years in prison in 2014 on charges of contempt of court, was also the leader of the pro-democracy Multi-Stakeholders Forum of political parties and civil society groups.
  • The killing took place just hours after the country's absolute monarch King Mswati III, with whom Maseko had a pending court battle over his decision to rename the country by decree in 2018, challenged activists fighting to end his rule.
  • Despite the government having expressed its condolences and vowing to take action against the criminals responsible, some opposition activists have accused King Mswati of ordering Maseko's murder as political violence increases.
  • UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Monday urged Eswatini authorities to promptly and impartially investigate this "cold-blooded killing" and ensure the security of all its people.
  • This comes after pro-democracy protests rocked the country two years ago. State violence against demonstrators was reported at the time as well as allegations that King Mswati III, who has been ruling the country since 1986, repressed any opposition.

Sources: Al Jazeera, All Africa, RFI, Daily Maverick, VOA, and Associated Press.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by Archive. The heinous murder of Maseko adds to the streak of King Mswati's politically-motivated killings that started in the wake of political protests in June 2021. After his efforts to strengthen a hit squad to burn properties belonging to those calling for democracy and kill them were recently exposed, the King did not deny that he had indeed hired mercenaries to crush dissent.
  • Narrative B, as provided by African Business. Responding to this tragic and violent death that has shocked and saddened the country, Eswatini's security forces have been searching for the killers and will not rest until they're brought to justice. Baseless claims that the government is involved in this or other murders only hamper investigations and divert attention away from the real criminals.