Eswatini deploys army to quell pro-democracy school protests

Pro-democracy groups report several arrests amid protests in Africa’s last absolute monarchy.

Soldiers and police have been deployed across schools in Eswatini where, for weeks now, students have been protesting to demand political reforms, according to pro-democracy groups.

School students in Africa’s last absolute monarchy, formerly known as Swaziland, have been boycotting classes and staging low-key protests for the past month.

They are mainly calling for the release of two lawmakers arrested during pro-democracy protests earlier this year, along with better learning conditions and free education.