Eswatini gives illegal foreign businesses 12 months to leave

Businesses owned by Asian nationals are being closed across Eswatini as the government cracks down on foreign-owned enterprises.

The crackdown follows Parliament's approval of the Citizen Economic Empowerment Act, which seeks to increase ownership and participation by emaSwati, as citizens in the kingdom are known.

The legislation follows complaints from local traders that foreign-owned businesses are encroaching on traditional retail markets, increasing competition and threatening livelihoods.

South Africa has witnessed more severe enforcement actions, including raids, arrests and the disruption of foreign-run informal businesses, while Kenya has also stepped up action against foreign traders.

Its implementation has sparked a heated debate in Parliament, with MPs divided over how quickly foreign businesses owners should be required to leave.