Africa’s Last Absolute Monarchy Eswatini Denies King Fled
- Government declares immediate curfew to restore order
- Pro-democracy protests seen unlikely to topple the government
King Mswati III
Photographer: Pius Utomi Ekpei/AFP/Getty Images
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Eswatini’s government introduced a curfew and denied King Mswati III, Africa’s last absolute monarch, fled his country as pro-democracy protests turned violent and the nation’s communist party alleged he’d flown in his private jet to neighboring South Africa.
A 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew is effective immediately to ensure safety and security and avoid unnecessary movements, the government said in an emailed statement Tuesday.