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Eswatini
KINGDOM OF ESWATINI
Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, is a small, landlocked country in Southern Africa bordered by Mozambique and South Africa. Known for its diverse climate and topography, it ranges from cool mountains to hot lowlands. Established in the mid-18th century by Ngwane III, the country was named after King Mswati II. Eswatini gained independence from British rule in 1968 and was renamed in 2018.
In 1903, following the British victory in the Second Boer War, Swaziland was designated as one of the British "High Commission Territories." This category also included Basutoland (now Lesotho) and Bechuanaland, although Swaziland did not become a protectorate because no agreement was reached with the Swazi Queen Regent, Labotsibeni Mdluli. The Swaziland Administration Proclamation of 1904 established a commission to examine and define concession boundaries, concluding its work in 1907. By 1910, the Swaziland Concessions Partition Proclamation had set aside approximately 38% of Swaziland's area for the Swazi people. During this period, the Swazi were encouraged to work in the Transvaal to earn money to buy more land.
Much of the early administration of Swaziland was managed from South Africa until 1906, when the Transvaal Colony was granted self-government. Although a British high commissioner had some governing functions, the Swazis maintained self-governance on their reserves. King Sobhuza II's official coronation took place in December 1921 after the regency of Labotsibeni, and he unsuccessfully petitioned the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London in 1922 regarding land issues.
Between 1923 and 1963, Sobhuza II established the Swazi Commercial Amadoda to grant business licenses and founded the Swazi National School to counteract the dominance of missionary education. His influence grew, successfully resisting British administrative power and potential incorporation into the Union of South Africa. In November 1963, Britain promulgated a constitution for independent Swaziland, creating a Legislative Council and Executive Council despite opposition from the king's Swazi National Council. The first Legislative Council was formed in 1964, with the area reserved for the Swazi increasing to 56%. A new constitution, providing for a House of Assembly and Senate, led to elections in 1967, making Swaziland a protected state until its independence in 1968.
Following the 1972 elections, King Sobhuza II suspended the constitution and ruled by decree until his death in 1982, after nearly 83 years as king. A regency followed, with Queen Regent Dzeliwe Shongwe replaced by Queen Mother Ntfombi Tfwala in 1984. Mswati III, the son of Ntfombi, was crowned in 1986. An attempt to annex parts of South Africa in 1982 failed, despite negotiations, due to popular opposition.
The 1990s saw increased student and labor protests calling for reforms. Constitutional progress led to the 2005 introduction of the current Swazi constitution, despite activist objections. The first election under this constitution occurred in 2008. In 2011, an economic crisis due to reduced Southern African Customs Union (SACU) receipts led to a rejected loan request from South Africa, which included political reform conditions. Fiscal pressure eased in 2012 with improved SACU receipts, and a new parliament was elected in 2013, with Sibusiso Dlamini reappointed as prime minister.
On 19 April 2018, King Mswati III renamed Swaziland to the Kingdom of Eswatini to mark the 50th anniversary of independence and avoid confusion with Switzerland. The name Eswatini means "land of the Swazis.
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