Country: Eswatini

Group: South Asian

Date Finalized: 9/28/2022

Team: Samuel Kniery (lead), Zaida Yancy Arellano Reyes, Gabby Staker, Hajer Rahee, Jhanz Garcia.

 Content Warning: Physical Violence, Racism, Scapegoating

Approximate Time Period: 2016-Present

The South Asian community of Eswatini is primarily composed of Indians, with an estimated population of 1500 individuals as of 2020 (MEA 2016; MEA n.d.). Most South Asian nationals in Eswatini engage in business operations. However, a minority of individuals work in government departments, hospitals, and the University of Eswatini. Despite publicly advocating for the creation of “Special Economic Zones” to incentivize Indian businesses, Mswati III is allegedly responsible for encouraging violence and discrimination toward South Asians residing in Eswatini through media-misinformation campaigns. Outside observers have suggested that such campaigns are examples of scapegoating, using South Asian communities to distract Eswatini nationals from worsening economic conditions and limited social mobility (Laterza 2021). In 2014-2015, Eswatini imports from India increased by 76.49%, while exports to India declined by 82.35% (MEA 2016). Subsequently, in 2016, Eswatini’s royal-owned newspaper released inflammatory articles falsely claiming 600,000 South Asians resided in Eswatini and endangered the economy (Luedi 2016). The Mswati III administration also organized government committees to investigate South Asian immigration, threatened a suspension of all entry permits, and encouraged financial delays for South Asians applying for bank loans (DOS 2022a). The recent destabilization of Eswatini’s economy, increasing social unrest, and Covid-19 lockdowns prompted another South Asian scapegoating event in 2021, resulting in the targeted burning of South Asian-owned retail shops (Laterza 2021). Outside observers have yet to report specific instances of death resulting from violence against South Asians living in Eswatini. Nevertheless, the frequency of state-sponsored socioeconomic scapegoating presents serious concerns over potential instances of lethal violence against South Asians in the future (DOS 2022b).

Data Quality: Data quality for South Asian discrimination in Eswatini is rated a 1/3 due to a lack of substantial reporting from credible sources, first-hand accounts, and peer-reviewed academic perspectives.

Sources

  1. Laterza, V. (2021, September 5). Can Eswatini’s monarchy recover from the ongoing crisis? Opinions | Al Jazeera. Retrieved September 28, 2022, from https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2021/8/7/can-eswatinis-monarchy-recover-from-the-crisis
  2. Luedi, J. (2016, October 28). Under the radar: Why is Swaziland’s king defaming Asians? Global Risk Insights. Retrieved September 28, 2022, from https://globalriskinsights.com/2016/10/why-swazilands-king-defaming-asians/
  3. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)- Government of India. (n.d.). High Commission of india Mbabane, Eswatini [formerly known as Swaziland]. High Commission of India, Mbabane. Retrieved September 28, 2022, from https://www.hcimbabane.gov.in/page/india-swaziland-relations/
  4. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India. (2016, January). India – Swaziland Relations. Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. Retrieved September 28, 2022, from https://www.mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/Swaziland_13_01_2016.pdf
  5. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India. (2018, April 6). Transcript of Media Briefing on the upcoming visit of President to Equatorial Guinea, Swaziland and Zambia. Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. Retrieved September 28, 2022, from https://www.mea.gov.in/media-briefings.htm?dtl%2F29787%2Ftranscript%2Bof%2Bmedia%2Bbriefing%2Bon%2Bthe%2Bupcoming%2Bvisit%2Bof%2Bpresident%2Bto%2Bequatorial%2Bguinea%2Bswaziland%2Band%2Bzambia
  6. U.S. Department of State (DOS). (2022a, April 12). 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Eswatini. U.S. Department of State. Retrieved September 28, 2022, from https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/eswatini
  7. U.S. Department of State (DOS). (2022b, June 2). 2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Eswatini. U.S. Department of State. Retrieved September 28, 2022, from https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/