Swazi State Shakeup

[Exalted Inquellian State]

According to Swaziland's largest opposition platform, people want a republic.

Also, I saw a few sources say protestors began turning violent I'm checking the sources validity right not.

[Exalted Inquellian State]

I can't believe anyone would defend monarchism and stand up for crowned bandits.

We fought a Revolution to get rid of them, you know.

I don't like Swaziland's type of monarchism(which is a feudal semi-constitutional monarchy, but one which is only semi-constitutional to further the monarch's power) but I prefer they either keep the current dynasty with powers between a figurehead and the former German Emperor, or put on a new one(once again under those constraints). If the protests turn really bad and the military really starts cracking down, I'll support a republic, because the monarchy failed at it's job.

[Shofercia]

I just realized that their population grew from less than 300k in 1950 to over 1 million today. That's quite a bit of growth.

[Shofercia]

Umm, erm, guys, we need to Liberate Swaziland. Now was part of this here liberation movement, we need to install a trustworthy NSGer to ensure that the women in the palace have their needs met in the absence of the King. I humbly recommend myself for the role. Viva La Revolucion! Or Liberation! Or Whatever! Damn, this is like Prima Nocta every night... erm, I mean that Swaziland has like WMDs, and like Human Rights Violations, and like needs Democracy, and like has Chinese/Russian Oppression somewhere, like and such as... someone tied to the arms industry said it, so it must be true!

Counterpoint; put me on the throne as King Adamede I and let me live a life of luxury and debauchery and I’ll let you rape the country for all of its resources, figuratively and literally.

*summons Neoliberal Consensus*

Gotta learn from the best!

[New Odrana]

I can't believe anyone would defend monarchism and stand up for crowned bandits.

We fought a Revolution to get rid of them, you know.

Swaziland, well known for being part of the United States.

Personally it's my favorite US state aside from Iraq.

[Salus Maior]

I can't believe anyone would defend monarchism and stand up for crowned bandits.

We fought a Revolution to get rid of them, you know.

You actually fought a war against Parliamentary overreach, the King had little to do with the issues between Britain and the colonies.

But that's another thread.

[Kowani]

death toll at 40 and climbing

[Kowani]

accusations that orders have been given to arrest MPs Bacede Mabuza and Mduduzi Gawuzela Simelane

also, the Southern African Development Community Organ on Politics, Defence & Security has been invited by on a fact finding mission related to the uprisings,will arrive in the country on Sunday, 4 July

[The Archregimancy]

According to Swaziland's largest opposition platform, people want a republic.

Not quite.

According to that link, a spokesperson for the youth wing of what claims to be the largest opposition group in Eswatini has stated that people want a republic.

However, there's no means of verifying the claims of either PUDEMO or its youth wing the Swaziland Youth Congress when it comes to being representative, and I have my doubts over whether a party of urban socialist intellectuals is representative of the population of a country dominated by conservative rural subsistence farmers.

The best way of finding out would, of course, be a democratic election, and PUDEMO might well do reasonably well there simply on the basis of having some level of organisational structure in Eswatini's towns. But that organisational structure might not be as extensive as PUDEMO claim. After all, the reason I'm not linking directly to the PUDEMO website in this post is that it seems to be a front for online gambling sites, and is littered with links to the latter; which doesn't fill me with confidence.

In any case, while it's hard to object to PUDEMO's call for greater democracy, I'm not necessarily convinced that they're at the vanguard of Swazi political thought - though I'm more than willing to see evidence to the contrary from people who know more about Swazi politics than I do.

[Arvenia]

According to Swaziland's largest opposition platform, people want a republic.

Not quite.

According to that link, a spokesperson for the youth wing of what claims to be the largest opposition group in Eswatini has stated that people want a republic.

However, there's no means of verifying the claims of either PUDEMO or its youth wing the Swaziland Youth Congress when it comes to being representative, and I have my doubts over whether a party of urban socialist intellectuals is representative of the population of a country dominated by conservative rural subsistence farmers.

The best way of finding out would, of course, be a democratic election, and PUDEMO might well do reasonably well there simply on the basis of having some level of organisational structure in Eswatini's towns. But that organisational structure might not be as extensive as PUDEMO claim. After all, the reason I'm not linking directly to the PUDEMO website in this post is that it seems to be a front for online gambling sites, and is littered with links to the latter; which doesn't fill me with confidence.

In any case, while it's hard to object to PUDEMO's call for greater democracy, I'm not necessarily convinced that they're at the vanguard of Swazi political thought - though I'm more than willing to see evidence to the contrary from people who know more about Swazi politics than I do.

Since Mswati had fled the country, the rise of a republican government is inevitable.

[The Archregimancy]

Not quite.

According to that link, a spokesperson for the youth wing of what claims to be the largest opposition group in Eswatini has stated that people want a republic.

However, there's no means of verifying the claims of either PUDEMO or its youth wing the Swaziland Youth Congress when it comes to being representative, and I have my doubts over whether a party of urban socialist intellectuals is representative of the population of a country dominated by conservative rural subsistence farmers.

The best way of finding out would, of course, be a democratic election, and PUDEMO might well do reasonably well there simply on the basis of having some level of organisational structure in Eswatini's towns. But that organisational structure might not be as extensive as PUDEMO claim. After all, the reason I'm not linking directly to the PUDEMO website in this post is that it seems to be a front for online gambling sites, and is littered with links to the latter; which doesn't fill me with confidence.

In any case, while it's hard to object to PUDEMO's call for greater democracy, I'm not necessarily convinced that they're at the vanguard of Swazi political thought - though I'm more than willing to see evidence to the contrary from people who know more about Swazi politics than I do.

Since Mswati had fled the country, the rise of a republican government is inevitable.

1) That's not really a response to the question raised in my post.

2) It's far from clear that he has left the country.

[Brocken Brackh]

I just realized that their population grew from less than 300k in 1950 to over 1 million today. That's quite a bit of growth.

Maybe some of that was Swazis who'd been living in South Africa going back home (before the end of Apartheid) rather than put up with Apartheid rules for any longer? Or even to the South African government using the existence of a separate Swaziland nation as an excuse to push out some of its resident Swazis?

I'm not a great fan of absolute (or near-absolute) monarchy either -- not unless I would get to be the monarch, anyway -- but considering the general level of sub-Saharan African politics overall I'm not yet convinced that elected leaders would be any better for the country.

(Stray thought, that I actually had several months ago: If 'eSwatini' accepted sponsorship from Apple, would they become 'iSwatini' instead?)


(OOPS! Accidentally posted with a "badgerstan" puppet rather than with my main: This is Bears Armed.)

[Jarvikan]

Swaziland, well known for being part of the United States.

Personally it's my favorite US state aside from Iraq.

Why them?My favourites are Zimbabwe and Cuba!

[New Odrana]

Personally it's my favorite US state aside from Iraq.

Why them?My favourites are Zimbabwe and Cuba!

Well, they have a monarch. What other state can say that!?

[The Archregimancy]

Why them?My favourites are Zimbabwe and Cuba!

Well, they have a monarch. What other state can say that!?

Hawaii.

[New Odrana]

Well, they have a monarch. What other state can say that!?

Hawaii.

They had a monarch. If that's the standard we're going by, then the entire East Coast should be bending the knee to Elizabeth II lol.

[The Free City of Nelson]

Well, in that case I’d place my bets on the government. The guys with the most guns tend to win these things.

Well, the protestors could always try fighting guns with flowers. It worked in Portugal and Eastern Europe, it might work here. I mean, probably not, but you never know, right?

As a portuguese, we had people with guns stage a coup on the fascist regime, no shot was fired but still, we did kinda sorta point rifles at their heads and imprison them, it had flowers after the revolution when the soldiers were marching but that's besides the point

[Kowani]

Natural Resources Minister bans sale of petrol in containers as protestors continue to burn Government and companies’ properties linked to the King, protestors say they'll start to burn houses belonging to soldiers and police officials in response to civilians being killed

[Parxland]

I'm calling it now; this is a power move by china to make Eswatini another Chinese ally. Eswatini is only one of 15 countries left supporting the Republic of China (Taiwan) and it's surrounded by pro-chinese countries. It's one big conspiracy to pick off the king.

[HISPIDA]

According to Swaziland's largest opposition platform, people want a republic.

Also, I saw a few sources say protestors began turning violent I'm checking the sources validity right not.

If a republic's declared I'd like to see them adopt the 1894-1902 flag.

[Kowani]

the army has now seen it’s first death

[Shofercia]

According to Swaziland's largest opposition platform, people want a republic.

Not quite.

According to that link, a spokesperson for the youth wing of what claims to be the largest opposition group in Eswatini has stated that people want a republic.

However, there's no means of verifying the claims of either PUDEMO or its youth wing the Swaziland Youth Congress when it comes to being representative, and I have my doubts over whether a party of urban socialist intellectuals is representative of the population of a country dominated by conservative rural subsistence farmers.

The best way of finding out would, of course, be a democratic election, and PUDEMO might well do reasonably well there simply on the basis of having some level of organisational structure in Eswatini's towns. But that organisational structure might not be as extensive as PUDEMO claim. After all, the reason I'm not linking directly to the PUDEMO website in this post is that it seems to be a front for online gambling sites, and is littered with links to the latter; which doesn't fill me with confidence.

In any case, while it's hard to object to PUDEMO's call for greater democracy, I'm not necessarily convinced that they're at the vanguard of Swazi political thought - though I'm more than willing to see evidence to the contrary from people who know more about Swazi politics than I do.

To be fair Arch, this protest is one big gamble, so maybe they were practicing their poker face *cues Lady Gaga*

[Sungoldy-China]

I'm calling it now; this is a power move by china to make Eswatini another Chinese ally. Eswatini is only one of 15 countries left supporting the Republic of China (Taiwan) and it's surrounded by pro-chinese countries. It's one big conspiracy to pick off the king.

Then the great American army should quickly send troops to suppress these dirty communist insurgents,
so that the great king will return to the throne and bring fresh air of democracy and freedom to the country.

[Shofercia]

I just realized that their population grew from less than 300k in 1950 to over 1 million today. That's quite a bit of growth.

Maybe some of that was Swazis who'd been living in South Africa going back home (before the end of Apartheid) rather than put up with Apartheid rules for any longer? Or even to the South African government using the existence of a separate Swaziland nation as an excuse to push out some of its resident Swazis?

I'm not a great fan of absolute (or near-absolute) monarchy either -- not unless I would get to be the monarch, anyway -- but considering the general level of sub-Saharan African politics overall I'm not yet convinced that elected leaders would be any better for the country.

(Stray thought, that I actually had several months ago: If 'eSwatini' accepted sponsorship from Apple, would they become 'iSwatini' instead?)


(OOPS! Accidentally posted with a "badgerstan" puppet rather than with my main: This is Bears Armed.)

Nope, Swaziland's net migration rate's quite low, and the amount of Swazis living in South Africa is more than in Swaziland. South Africa "heroically" uses Swazis as cheap labor for its mines, so I doubt that they'd undermine their killable worker pool. One look at their population pyramid and you can see that Swazis are quite fertile and reproductive.

Considering that the current crop of those who are looking to topple the leadership acting in a juvenile manner, I think that I'd agree with you, in that I doubt that the new iteration would be better. In order to have a democracy you need a truly educated population, rather than merely a literate one.

[Kowani]

opposition leaders going into hiding after army deployed