Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te complained that China’s “authoritarian regime” stopped him from joining the celebration to mark 40 years of rule by Africa’s last absolute monarchy that has banned all political parties.

Pro-democracy activists in Swaziland have accused the state of targeting leaders with fabricated charges in an effort to silence dissent.

Propping up Africa’s last absolute monarchy in the southern African country of Swaziland, Taiwan, in turn, exploits cheap Swazi labor, especially women laboring in the textile sector in which Taiwanese capital is heavily invested.

“The monarchy is trying to hunt us all down—our comrades are being followed, abducted and tortured. None of us are safe as long as this regime exists,” said Simphiwe Dlamini, international secretary of the Communist Party of Swaziland, regarding the rule of King Mswati III, Africa’s last absolute monarch

FTM Garments filed a case against Amalgamated Trade Unions of Swaziland (ATUSWA), a week after the union had taken the company to court over the former’s refusal to recognize it