Armed forces open fire in crackdown on anti-monarchy protests in Eswatini

Teargas used against protesters in African kingdom with an overnight curfew imposed

Government forces in the southern African kingdom of Eswatini fired gunshots and teargas on Tuesday to break up protests calling for reforms to its system of absolute monarchy, witnesses said. A dusk-till-dawn curfew was also imposed.

The acting prime minister, Themba Masuku, denied media reports that King Mswati III had fled the violence to neighbouring South Africa.