eSwatini a Case Study for IR

The events in eSwatini took a drastic turn this week when the United States of America (U.S.) embassy divulged information of the shooting of an embassy vehicle, and with the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) reminding the eSwatini government of its commitment to the international human rights law, amid the ongoing violence and unrest in the country.


The U.S. embassy had on Thurday confirmed the shooting of an embassy vehicle on 01 July at the height of the prodemocracy protests and heavy deployment of government armed forces, and what government had described as mercenaries. 

The embassy said the eSwatini Ministry of Foreign Affairs was informed of the incident via a diplomatic note; which was a standard form of communication between all diplomatic missions and the eSwatini Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The U.S. had this week also increased its Marine Security Guards following the shooting incident. 

In a statement issued by the embassy, it said this was to protect the U.S. Embassy and its diplomats.

The OHCHR said it was concerned with reports of dozens of people having been killed or injured during protests for democratic reforms in eSwatini.
“We remind the authorities that peaceful protests are protected under international human rights law, including under Article 21 of the International Convenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which the Kingdom of eSwatini is a State Party,” read its statement.

Swaziland News had this week also hinted on the involvement of the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding the situation in the Kingdom of eSwatini.

The unrest in the country was intensified by the death of a student allegedly at the hands of the police. This saw increased prodemocracy marches and protests which were also intensified at the government’s banning of delivery of petitions.

International Relations (IR) students and practitioners will then want to use eSwatini to look at the issues of diplomatic immunity (the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations), international law and the Right to Protect (R2P).

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