The International Union of Socialist Youth, the world’s biggest youth political organization, hereby expresses its full solidarity with the people of Swaziland, the comrades of Swaziland Youth Congress and the members of the Swaziland National Union of Students.

We follow with great concern the current situation of Swaziland and condemn all forms of violence used by the Swaziland Government supported by the King Mswati III.

Bearing in mind that:

1. In our last IUSY Congress, held in Panama on the last 18 and 19 of June, the organization approved a resolution that highlights the need for democracy in Swaziland. The 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 to the values of freedom, human rights which the world cherishes so much.

Swaziland remains the only state ruled by an absolute monarchy with the king having total control over all the three arms of government. More than 60 per cent of the population live below the poverty datum line, while the king spends most of the country’s economy on himself. Swaziland has the highest infection rate of HIV and AIDS in the world, with 26 % of people living with HIV/AIDS. Swaziland also has a very high unemployment rate, and more than 200 000 orphans and vulnerable children are forced to head their families as there are no adult care givers in their families. The vicious cycle of poverty, hunger and sickness, has seen the life expectancy drop to 48 years, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The people of Swaziland are fully committed to a peaceful transition in societies facing political, social and economic challenges. With the current form of government, the inequalities, violations of fundamental human rights, poverty and disease are continually rising. Our member organization the Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO) is advocating for change to transform people’s lives. Student members are currently facing arrests, torture and detainment for protesting the lack of democracy.”

2. Swaziland is Africa’s last remaining absolute monarchy;

3. Our organisation and all democratic organisations have the responsibility to promote people’s emancipation in a democratic decision-making process;  

4. The number of people brutally injured and killed at the hands of the military increases every day and the violence does not seem to stop;

5. Our comrade, Bekhinkhosi Dlamini, from Swige, was killed by the army on the 28^th June 2021 during a peaceful protest, adding his life to the number of victims, as Thabani Nkomonye, who died fighting for a democratic country;

6. Internet has been shut down in Swaziland after government ordered Internet operators to stop providing it, therefore hampering the communication between Swazis and the international community;

We demand that the Swaziland government:

1. Immediately lifts the illegal curfew imposed on 29^th June 2021;

2. Ends the current military state in Swaziland;

3. Publicly announces the unbanning of political parties, repealing the 1973 Decree and suppressing the Terrorist Act of 2008;

4. Releases all political prisoners and unconditionally provides the conditions for the return of all political exiles;

We further ask all our Member Organisations and the International Community to:

1. Support our previous demands;

2. Develop local, regional and worldwide actions to condemn the current actions of the Swaziland Government and of the King Mswati III;

3. Establish a peacekeeping process in the transition for a democratic state in Swaziland.

This is the time to stand in solidarity with the millions of Swazis whose hope cannot fall in vain. We, as agents of a democratic change towards a peaceful world, must act now to prevent more lives from being taken.

For Swaziland, for Democracy, for Bekhinkhosi Dlamini and the dozens of victims, we ask you to unequivocally stand on the side of human rights.