The International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) expresses great concern about recent events in Swaziland (eSwatini) and the continuing violation of human rights against IUSY member organization Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO) and students by the despotic regime of King Mswati. 

On 31st January, 2021 we woke up to another sad news about the arrest of the Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS) President and SWAYOCO member, Colani Maseko with malicious charges of Sedition. In the IUSY family we believe in the right to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly which Maseko was exercising, and such should not lead to an arrest. 

Our member organisation SWAYOCO and students have been central in demanding a democratic political system that would fight to address the glaring socio economic conditions, ranging from poverty, access to education, health care and importantly jobs for the majority of young people. Fighting for justice, equality and dignity should never be a crime 

We reiterate our last Congress resolution “Freedom and Democracy for Swaziland” states: 

“The International Union Socialist Youth (IUSY), call on for the democratization of Swaziland. The people of Swaziland have been denied their freedom for too long since political parties were banned in 1973 by the monarchy. The absolute monarchy run by King Mswati does not espouse the values of freedom, human rights which the world cherishes so much.” 

IUSY calls for the immediate release of Maseko and the hundreds of prisoners languishing in Swazi prisons. 

IUSY calls on the people of the world to stand in solidarity with the people of Swaziland. 

We call international bodies SADC, AU and UN to take action against the Swazi regime, the suffering has been too long.