Mbabane – The Royal Eswatini Police Service has launched September 2025 as the national month for surrendering illegally owned firearms, urging citizens to hand over weapons without fear of arrest or prosecution.
The initiative is part of the African Union’s Africa Amnesty Month, established in July 2017 during the 29th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The amnesty encourages individuals to voluntarily surrender illegal weapons, aiming to reduce violent crime, prevent conflicts, and promote safety across communities.
National Commissioner of Police, Mr. M.V. Masango, explained that Eswatini’s participation is vital to the success of the initiative, as communities are most affected by gun-related violence. He expressed concern that only one firearm was surrendered during the 2024 amnesty despite high levels of gun-related crime, citing limited awareness and deliberate inaction by some perpetrators as key factors.
From October 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025, police arrested 95 individuals for illegal firearm possession, including 81 Emaswati and 14 from neighboring countries. Women were also among the suspects, raising further concerns. During the same period, authorities seized 43 firearms and 297 live rounds of ammunition.
Commissioner Masango called on all members of the public to report illegal firearms, assuring that anonymity will be maintained. He confirmed that the Police Service will continue to collaborate with stakeholders to ensure illegal weapons are removed from communities and do not end up in the hands of criminals.
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