Swaziland under King Sobhuza
II supported the white-ruled Apartheid government in South Africa because he
was afraid that change there would encourage people to press for political
reform in his own kingdom, a secret CIA document from 1978 reveals.
King Sobhuza ruled Swaziland as an absolute monarch
after he dissolved
parliament in 1973 and had faced many calls for change. The
information in the document contradicts the present-day belief that King
Sobhuza and his backers were stanch supporters of the struggle for freedom in
South Africa during the Apartheid era.
The United States Central
Intelligence Agency in a report called Africa Review and marked ‘Secret’, dated 1
December 1978 said South Africa had ‘equipped the Swazi Army with light
infantry weapons’.
The
report said the ‘traditionalist’ Swaziland government, ‘believes it is
threatened in the same way white South Africans are, namely by a host of
outside forces seeking the destruction of a social and political order that has
served to protect the interests of the ruling elite.
‘Since
independence [10 years earlier in 1968] the Swazi Government has sought to
suppress any signs of change that could lead to pressure for reforming the
country’s political and social institutions. Consequently, close relations with
South Africa are probably viewed as protection against Communist and radical
change.’
The
secret CIA report that has since
been declassified
added Swaziland had strong economic ties with South Africa and was ‘motivated
to maintain good relations with Pretoria’.
It added, ‘As a result, Swaziland has made little
effort to disassociate itself from Pretoria and has indeed strengthened
economic ties with South Africa. The government apparently also maintains a
covert and close relationship with the South African police that appears to
extend beyond cooperation in criminal matters to intelligence matters of mutual
concern.
‘In addition, South Africa has equipped the Swazi Army
with light infantry weapons.’
The CIA report said that one way Swaziland had shown
its support for the racist white-run Apartheid regime in South Africa was to
cut its links with FIFA, the international footballing body, in protest at
South Africa’s expulsion from the organisation.
The CIA report said, ‘A Swazi official stated that “we
cannot afford to boycott South Africa or participate in any sanctions.” He
added, “I don’t see why we should deny a black man in South Africa the freedom
of association with other black sportsmen.”.
The report said that it was unlikely that the
situation would change after King Sobhuza died as, ‘his successor would be
confronted with the same geopolitical realities’.
The CIA report said that Swaziland was ‘beginning to
become involved, albeit very reluctantly, in the liberation effort against its
white neighbour. There is some evidence that Swaziland is being used
increasingly by South African nationalist movements for the infiltration of
arms and insurgents into South Africa.
‘Swaziland is also being used more frequently as an
escape route for black South African dissidents and refugees. Such activists
are carefully monitored, however, and the Swazis are not allowed to become
involved.
‘In early 1978 several Pan Africanist Congress leaders
were detained and later expelled for their involvement in cross-border
operations.’
See also
During Apartheid Era Swaziland Lobbied US and UK
Not to Support Sanctions on South Africa
The
Day Democracy Died in Swaziland
https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2018/04/the-day-democracy-died-in-swaziland.html
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