The Southern African Development Community (SADC) will hold an extraordinary summit in Namibia on Monday to discuss the ongoing political and security crisis in Eswatini. The summit will be attended by heads of state and government from the 16-member regional bloc, as well as representatives from the African Union and the United Nations.

The summit comes amid growing calls for democratic reforms and an end to police brutality in Eswatini, Africa’s last absolute monarchy. The country has been rocked by protests and violence since June, when pro-democracy activists took to the streets to demand political and economic changes.

http://gty.im/1236298328

The government has responded with a heavy-handed crackdown, deploying security forces to disperse protesters, arrest activists and journalists, and impose a curfew and internet shutdown. According to human rights groups, dozens of people have been killed and hundreds injured by the police and army.

The government has also rejected calls for dialogue with the opposition and civil society groups, insisting that the country’s system of governance is based on tradition and culture. King Mswati III, who has ruled Eswatini since 1986, has absolute power over the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government.

http://gty.im/1235711257

The SADC summit is expected to review the situation in Eswatini and make recommendations on how to resolve the crisis peacefully. The summit will also consider the reports of the SADC Organ Troika on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, which visited Eswatini in July and August to assess the situation and engage with various stakeholders.

The summit will also discuss other regional issues, such as the security situation in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province, where Islamist militants have been waging a violent insurgency since 2017.

Source: BBC News