Black Agenda Report
Black Agenda Report
News, commentary and analysis from the black left.

  • Home
  • Africa
  • African America
  • Education
  • Environment
  • International
  • Media and Culture
  • Political Economy
  • Radio
  • US Politics
  • War and Empire
  • omnibus

Swaziland Army in “Full Charge” After Protests, Many Killed by King’s Troops
All Africa
15 Jul 2021
Swaziland Army in “Full Charge” After Protests, Many Killed by King’s Troops
Swaziland Army in “Full Charge” After Protests, Many Killed by King’s Troops

The Swazi military has reportedly warned the population to “obey instructions” or “face full wraith of troops.”

“The army is now fully in charge for real .. not even the police knows what the army is doing now.”

The Army in Swaziland (eSwatini) has taken full charge after mass prodemocracy protests left many people dead, according to a Human Rights Watch official.

Dewa Mavhinga, director for Southern Africa, added reports received by the organization were that the Army were on a “killing spree,”

He said police in Swaziland had reported that the Army had refused to have joint operations so military deployment was not under civilian authority or oversight.

Mavhinga reported, ‘From a police source, the army is now fully in charge for real .. not even the police knows what the army is doing now.

‘They only call the police to collect bodies of people shot and killed.’

The Times of Swaziland reported on Sunday (4 July 2021) “Army declares ‘We have taken over’ and added those who failed to obey instructions “will face full wraith of troops.”

The Times reported the first sight of the army being deployed on the streets was on the previous Tuesday after protesters turned violent. As well as killings there are reports of widespread lootings.

A group from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) was in Swaziland on a fact-finding visit, but has yet to make a public statement.

Protests have been taking place across Swaziland for several weeks. People marched on local government offices delivering petitions asking for democratic reforms. King Mswati III rules Swaziland as an absolute monarch. He choses the Prime Minister and cabinet ministers. Political parties are banned from contesting election and groups advocating for democracy are outlawed under the Suppression of Terrorism Act.

 This article previously appeared in All Africa.com.

Do you need and appreciate Black Agenda Report articles. Please click on the DONATE icon, and help us out, if you can.


More Stories


  • BAR Radio Logo
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Black Agenda Radio July 11, 2025
    11 Jul 2025
    In this week’s segment, we discuss how the UK government protects Israel through terrorism statute lawfare, and media manipulation. But first, Donald Trump announced an early end to Temporary…
  • save TPS protest
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Haitian Communities Devastated by Efforts to End Temporary Protective Status
    11 Jul 2025
    The Donald Trump administration recently announced the end of Temporary Protective Status (TPS) for 500,000 Haitians currently living in the United States. TPS was first granted in 2010 after the…
  • Palestine Action
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    UK State Repression on Behalf of Israel
    11 Jul 2025
    Roger McKenzie is the international editor of the UK-based Morning Star, the only English-language socialist daily newspaper in the world. He joins us from Oxford to discuss how the UK supports…
  • Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    New York Times Joins a White Supremacist In Attacking Zohran Mamdani
    09 Jul 2025
    Zohran Mamdani, the choice of Democratic Party voters in New York City, is anathema to the billionaire class. So much so that the New York Times elevated the work of a white supremacist in an effort…
  • Editors, The Black Agenda Review
    EDITORIAL: Even During Disaster, The Pittsburgh Courier, 1927
    09 Jul 2025
    “Neither disaster, catastrophe, nor calamity can take precedence … over the color-caste system.”
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us