President Cyril Ramaphosa and other regional leaders are calling for a ‘swift, transparent and comprehensive investigation’ into the assassination of activist Thulani Maseko.
Southern African leaders have urged Eswatini to “urgently initiate” its delayed national political dialogue and to “conduct a swift, transparent and comprehensive investigation” into the recent murder of prominent human rights lawyer and political activist Thulani Maseko.
The organ is currently chaired by Namibian President Hage Geingob. Ramaphosa and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, the other members of the troika, attended the meeting, as did SADC chairperson Felix Tshisekedi, president of the Democratic Republic of Congo. In that statement Geingob had said: “SADC reiterates the need for peaceful resolution of the political and security challenges affecting the country. When dialogue fails, people go to war. Therefore, we propose that national and inclusive multi-stakeholder dialogue takes place.”
Eswatini has been in a state of simmering crisis since mid-2021 when violent protests and riots erupted after attempts by the authorities to clamp down on citizens expressing complaints to their members of parliament. The security forces violently suppressed the protests, killing scores of civilians.
Tuesday’s SADC summit in Windhoek also discussed other security crises in the SADC region, including the Islamic State-affiliated insurgency in northern Mozambique, and the continuing warfare in eastern DRC. “Summit noted the ongoing investigations being undertaken by Samim leadership following a disturbing video clip circulating on social media depicting what appears to be Samim personnel burning deceased people, and reiterated that the public will be informed once the investigations are completed, as communicated by the Chairperson of the Organ in his statement issued on 11 January 2023,” the communiqué said.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
TROUBLED AUTOCRACY: As activist Thulani Maseko is laid to rest, Eswatini’s quest for democracy intensifiesWith the call for open dialogue becoming louder and spreading wider in the wake of the slain lawyer’s memorial and burial, it is high noon for Eswatini’s monarch.
Read more »
ANC lekgotla backs national state of disaster to deal with energy crisisPresident Ramaphosa says the government is seeking legal advice on state of disaster
Read more »
Former president Ian Khama says he's open to reconciliation with Botswana president | News24Former president Ian Khama of Botswana says he is ready to dispatch his younger brother, Tshekedi Khama, to meet with representatives of President Mokgweetsi Masisi in their latest attempt at reconciliation. | CdeLENIN
Read more »
MICHAEL SCHMIDT: Murder of human rights lawyer latest in Eswatini’s secret warOpponents of the king suspect his forces’ hand behind Thulani Maseko's assassination
Read more »
2024 elections will be 'toughest ANC has ever faced' – Ramaphosa | The CitizenPolitical analysts described Ramaphosa's speech at ANC NEC lekgotla an honest introspection of the troubled ANC in the run-up to the 2024 national elections.
Read more »