The kingdom of Eswatini has given illegal foreign-owned businesses twelve months to shut down and leave the country, a move that comes directly in response to the growing presence of foreign entrepreneurs in the retail sector, particularly in rural areas.
The directive targets businesses operating outside the bounds of the country's laws, and the timeline gives owners just under a year to wind things down or face the consequences. For small traders and shop owners who have built their livelihoods in Eswatini's rural communities, the clock is now ticking.
The policy reflects a broader conversation happening across the continent about who gets to participate in local economies and on what terms. Whether twelve months is enough time to transition, and what happens to the communities these businesses currently serve, remains to be seen.
Originally published by BBC Africa.