Swaziland’s Lone Bishop Urges Calm Amid Swelling Protests, Violence

AS unrest continues to grow in Africa’s sole absolute monarchy, Eswatini’s sole Catholic bishop is calling for calm and dialogue. At least 21 protesters have been killed by state security forces in recent days in the southern African nation formerly known in English as Swaziland.

“As I have stated in the past, fighting fire with fire will bring our country to ashes,” said Argentina-born Bishop José Luis Ponce de León of Manzini in a statement released July 2.

“The restoration of calm should not make us think that the reasons behind the unrest have been addressed. An all-inclusive and open dialogue, without excluding any stakeholder, is the only possible way forward.”

The prelate also called for the restoration of internet services in the country “without which we depend on the information being offered by foreign media, and not by our own people.” This, he said, would also allow Churches, NGO’s