Africa-Press – Eswatini. Maxwell Dlamini, the Deputy Secretary General(DSG) of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) has been granted refugee status by the Government of Ireland through Justice and Home Affairs Minister Jim O’Callaghan.
Dlamini fled to Ireland amid political persecution and shortly after the Supreme Court dismissed an application filed by PUDEMO leaders, challenging the Suppression of Terrorism Act “that is being used by the eSwatini regime as a political tool to arrest those challenging the current Tinkhundla undemocratic regime”.
King Mswati rules eSwatini as an absolute Monarch, Maxwell Dlamini was previously arrested and charged with terrorism merely for challenging the legitimacy of the Government and/or calling for democracy, in a country where political parties are banned while independent journalists are arrested or forced to exile for criticizing the Government.
But the dismissal of the application by the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the Suppression of Terrorism Act, placed Dlamini in a vulnerable situation to be re-arrested and as a result,he fled the country to the democratic Republic of Ireland.
A letter confirmed that, the PUDEMO leader has been granted the refugee status with effect from the 14th July 2025.
Reached for comments on Sunday, Dlamini thanked the Irish Government for granting him the refugee status adding that, he will now fight for democracy while in a safe country.
“I extend my deepest gratitude to the government of Ireland for granting me full protection and recognising my struggle for freedom. My heartfelt thanks also go to the people of Ireland for their kindness, solidarity, and warm welcome into their beautiful country. I will use this moment to renew my strength for our fight for democracy, mobilizing all available and necessary resources to pursue our struggle to its logical conclusion.This is the beginning of the end, the last mile to freedom,” said the PUDEMO Deputy Secretary General.
On another note, Maxwell Dlamini is one of the few emaSwati whose case or application for refugee status was speedily concluded by the Irish Government, the PUDEMO leader who left the country last year, “has traceable record of fighting for human rights and democracy in eSwatini”.
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