Swaziland
Swaziland, with a population of around 1.2 million is dominated by the service and agricultural sector. More than 60% of the population earn less than $2 a day. The country is said to have one of the highest HIV rates in the world.
On March 18, efforts to cut salaries of civil servants sparked the biggest protests seen in the country.
Barnabas Dlamini, King Mswati's prime minister, has declared the planned protests illegal.
Student and union leaders have vowed to go ahead with the demonstrations, arguing that that they did not need to seek permission for the marches after winning mass approval for the demonstration last month.