Swaziland

1.2 million people
4,840 USD GNI (PPP)
Press:
Not Free
Not Free

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In a welcome move, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) has sharply criticized the human rights record of the government of Swaziland and has called on it to respect, protect, and fulfill the rights to freedom of expression, association, and assembly in accordance with their commitments under international law.

Freedom House is deeply concerned by the ongoing suppression of civil liberties in Swaziland, where a planned pro-democracy protest was preemptively dispersed on April 12 through arrests and intimidation by police and military forces.

In an alarming move to restrict freedom of expression, the government of Swaziland has proposed a law that will  make it illegal to criticize King Mswati III on Facebook and Twitter. Justice Minister Mgwagwa Gamedze proposed the legislation, informing the Swazi Senate they would take a “tough” stance on those who criticize the king via social media and “set an example.”

The arrest of opposition leader Mario Masuku on the frivolous charge of publicly saying the name of his political party,

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Since 2009, Freedom House supports civil society in Swaziland to ensure that a stronger citizen voice can be generated and then properly translated to the national and regional stage where political reforms will be negotiated by a cohesive and effective civil society.