Eswatini Passport

[Country name] The Kingdom of Eswatini.

【 Area 】 17363 square kilometers.

Population: 1.2 million (2022). Among them, the Swazi ethnic group accounts for 90%, the Zulu and Tonga ethnic groups account for 6%, white people account for 2%, and the rest are of European African mixed race. The official languages are English and Swati. About 60% of residents believe in Christianity, 30% believe in primitive religions, and 10% believe in Islam.

Mbabane, the capital, has a population of approximately 100000. The hottest temperature in January and February is 15-25 ℃; The coldest temperature in June is 5-19 ℃. January is the wettest month with an average monthly precipitation of 252 millimeters; The driest month is June, with an average monthly precipitation of 18 millimeters.

King Mswati III ascended to the throne on April 25, 1986.

[Important Festivals] Commonwealth Day (March 9th), King Mswati III's birthday (April 19th), Flag Day (April 25th), Reed Dance Festival (approximately one week between July and August each year), Independence Day (September 6th).

【 Overview 】 It is a landlocked country in southeastern Africa, surrounded by South Africa to the north, west, and south, and adjacent to Mozambique to the east. It belongs to subtropical climate, with an average annual temperature of 16 ℃ in the west and 22.2 ℃ in the east.

In the late 15th century, Eswatini people gradually migrated south from Central Africa and East Africa. In the 16th century, they settled here and established a kingdom. After 1907, it became a British "protectorate". On September 6, 1968, it declared independence and named itself the Kingdom of Eswatini. King Sobuza II reigned for 61 years and passed away in August 1982, with Queen Dowager Zelivi serving as regent. In 1983, the Royal Commission appointed Prince Cosetive as the Crown Prince, with Queen Entombi, the mother of the Crown Prince, serving as regent. On April 25, 1986, Crown Prince Markosetivi ascended to the throne and was named Mswati III.

Eswatini is the only country in southern Africa that still prohibits political parties from participating in elections, and one of the few countries in the world that still practices absolute monarchy. Since the 1990s, there has been a growing demand for the lifting of party bans and the implementation of a multi-party system. In 1992, the Tinkhundla election law, also known as the tribal residential area election law, was implemented, which still belonged to the traditional election law, and candidates could only run in their personal capacity. The general election held in October 1993 was strongly opposed by advocates of a "multi-party system", and protests erupted one after another. Since 1996, the Eswatini Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU) has launched several large-scale national strikes, proposing to lift the party ban and realize democratization and other political requirements. King Si established a Constitutional Amendment Committee (later replaced by the Constitutional Drafting Committee) to ease the situation. The constitutional amendment work originally scheduled to be completed by the end of 1999 has been repeatedly postponed. It was not until May 2003 that the Constitutional Drafting Committee submitted a new draft constitution to the King.

In February 2006, the new constitution of Sri Lanka was officially promulgated and implemented, which still maintained the absolute power of the king over the judiciary, administration, and parliamentary affairs of Sri Lanka. The vague expression on the legalization of political parties caused great dissatisfaction among Sri Lankan civil society. Some democratic progressive forces believe that the new constitution violates public opinion and strongly demand the lifting of party bans. In recent years, there have been strikes, marches, and petitions against the government and advocating for democracy, but none have shaken the power of the royal family. In May 2008, the Sri Lankan government arrested Masuku, the chairman of the People's United Democratic Movement, on the grounds of counter-terrorism, and threatened to dismiss civil servants involved in progressive activities. In September, Sri Lanka held its first parliamentary election after the implementation of the new constitution, but most progressive forces boycotted it. The king appointed a new cabinet after the election. In recent years, there have been multiple large-scale protests demanding the abdication of the king, the lifting of party bans, and the return of power to the people, but they have so far refused to engage in a national political dialogue.

The old constitution was enacted in October 1978, stipulating that Sri Lanka is a country without racial discrimination, regardless of skin color or faith, where everyone is equal and enjoys freedom and justice; Private property is inviolable; Prohibit all political party activities; The king is the supreme head of state with executive power, which is implemented through a cabinet presided over by the prime minister. The new constitution came into effect in February 2006, providing for the protection of judicial independence, safeguarding human rights and freedom of speech and association, but did not fundamentally touch upon the lifting of party bans or the absolute power of the king over judicial, administrative, and parliamentary affairs. The king can still veto laws, dissolve parliament, appoint and dismiss the prime minister, cabinet, and some members of both houses according to his own wishes.

The parliament is composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives, with a term of 5 years. Its functions are limited to debating government proposals and providing advice to the king. This parliament will be elected in September 2023. There are currently 30 members of the Senate, of whom 20 are appointed by the king and 10 are elected by members of the House of Representatives. There are 69 members of the House of Representatives, of whom 10 are appointed by the king and 59 are elected.

The current government will be established in November 2023. The main members of the cabinet are: Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini, Deputy Prime Minister Thuli Dladla, Finance Minister Neil Reikenburg, Foreign Minister Pholile Shakantu, Health Minister Mduduzi Matsebula, Education Minister Owen Nxumalo, Economic Planning Minister Dr. Thambo Gina, Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Minister Bongani Nzima, Housing and Urban Development Minister Apollo Maparra Halala, Minister of Commerce and Industry Manqoba Khumalo, Minister of Tourism and Environment Jane Mhongta Mkhonta, Labour and Social Security Minister Phila Buthelezi, Traditional Governance and Development Minister Sikhumbuzo Dlamini, Justice Minister Prince Simelane, Natural Resources Minister Prince Lonkhokhela, Information and Communication Technology Minister Savannah Maziya, Interior Minister Princess Lindiwe, Public Service Minister Mabulala Maseko, Public Works Minister Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe, Agriculture Minister Mandera Mandla Tshawuka.

The country is divided into four districts: Shiselweni, Lubombo, Manzini, and Hhohho.

The judicial system adopts a dual legal system of Roman Dutch law and traditional customary law. The judicial system consists of the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court (formerly the Court of Appeal), the High Court, the District Court, and the Swazi (Chief) Court. The Constitutional Court has the final decision-making power over the judgments of the two court systems mentioned above. The Swazi Court is only responsible for adjudicating civil and criminal cases within the jurisdiction of this chief.

Mswati III: King. Originally named Makhosetive, meaning 'king of all nations'. Born on April 19, 1968 in Mbabane, he was the 67th son of the late King Sobuza II and the only son of Queen Entombi. In 1983, he was elected as the Crown Prince and subsequently went to study in the UK. He ascended to the throne on April 25, 1986.

The per capita GDP of Sri Lanka ranks among the top in sub Saharan African countries and is classified as a lower middle income country by the World Bank. Adhere to a free market economy, value the utilization of private and foreign capital, and encourage exports. The economy has a high degree of openness, with exports mainly consisting of agricultural products. Economic growth is greatly affected by climate conditions and changes in the international market. In the late 1980s, the economy of Sri Lanka developed rapidly, with an annual GDP growth rate of 7.8%. In the 1990s, the economy experienced a downturn with an average annual growth rate of 6.5%. In 2003, a new economic growth strategy was launched to promote agricultural development, ensure food security, and achieve diversified crop planting while increasing income and reducing expenses. The economy of Sri Lanka heavily relies on South Africa, with limited room for maneuver, a single export commodity, uneven development, and a significant wealth gap in society. The GDP for 2022 is 4.79 billion US dollars, with a per capita GDP of 3987 US dollars. In 2023, the GDP will be 4.6 billion US dollars, with an economic growth rate of 4.8% and a per capita GDP of 4135 US dollars.

Natural resources are abundant, with major mineral deposits including asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, and a small amount of gold and diamond reserves. The forest area is 541000 hectares, accounting for approximately 31.5% of the total area of Sri Lanka. There are 5 main rivers within the territory, with abundant hydraulic resources. The rivers flow through Sri Lanka before entering South Africa and Mozambique.

The industrial output value ranks first in the national economic structure. The industrial output value accounts for about 35% of the gross domestic product. We mainly produce products such as asbestos, diamonds, coal, processed wood, pulp, canned fruits, and cotton textiles.

Agriculture and animal husbandry play an important role in the national economy. 80% of the population is engaged in agriculture. The output value of agriculture and animal husbandry accounts for about 9% of the gross domestic product. The area of arable land in Sika accounts for 14.3% of the total land area, but currently it cannot be self-sufficient in food. The grassland and pasture area accounts for about 67% of the total land area. The main crops include sugarcane, corn, cotton, etc. Sugarcane cultivation is the industry with the largest employment population in Sri Lanka.

The tourism industry in Sri Lanka is relatively developed, but it is mainly controlled by South African conglomerates. The gambling industry is a major feature of Sri Lanka's tourism industry, with over 700000 foreign tourists visiting Sri Lanka annually, about 60% of whom are gamblers. The tourists mainly come from Europe, South Africa and other places. In recent years, the Sri Lankan government has attracted tourists by developing wildlife parks and showcasing the rich and diverse etiquette culture of Sri Lanka. Etiquette culture includes various celebrations in the palace, traditional weddings, and various ethnic dances. The hotel facilities are good, and Sun International Group has several five-star hotels in Sri Lanka.

Transportation: Road transportation is the main mode of transportation.

Highway: The total length of the highway is 3800 kilometers, of which about 1500 kilometers are asphalt roads, and the rest are regional roads such as dirt roads or stone roads. There are national highways connecting with neighboring countries South Africa and Mozambique.

Railway: With a total length of 370 kilometers, it is connected to railways in Mozambique and South Africa. Railway freight is an important mode of transportation for trade within Sri Lanka and with neighboring countries.

Air freight: Manzini International Airport has regular international flights to countries such as South Africa. Eswatini Airlink is the only airline in Swaziland, a joint venture funded by the Slovak government and South African Airlines (SAA).

Sri Lanka is a member of the Southern African Customs Union, and the annual tax revenue it receives from the organization is its largest source of income. Due to a strong rebound in revenue from the Southern African Customs Union, it is expected that the fiscal deficit will narrow from 5.1% in 2023 to 3.0% in 2024. With the predicted higher growth trajectory, the ratio of public debt to GDP is expected to decrease to 38% by 2024.

(Source: The Economist, African Development Bank official website)

Foreign trade plays an important role in the national economy of Sri Lanka, with main export products including concentrated soft drinks, sucrose, textiles, mineral products, etc; The main imported products include processed goods, machinery and equipment, food, live poultry and livestock, petrochemical products, etc. South Africa, China, and Kenya are the top three trading partners of Sri Lanka, with South Africa accounting for approximately 90% of Sri Lanka's imports and 60% of its exports. Other important trading partners include India, the United States, Tanzania, and Guinea. In 2022, Sri Lanka's export value was 2.05 billion US dollars, mainly exporting aromatherapy blends (560 million), unprocessed sugar (300 million), industrial oils and alcohol (200 million), sawdust (80 million), and women's clothing (60 million). The main exporting countries are South Africa (1.4 billion), Kenya (100 million), Nigeria (70 million), the Democratic Republic of Congo (70 million), and Mozambique (60 million). The import volume in 2022 is 2.04 billion US dollars, mainly imported refined petroleum (200 million), gold (90 million), electricity (60 million), corn (40 million), and gas turbines (40 million). The main importing countries are South Africa (1.55 billion), China (80 million), the United States (70 million), Mozambique (60 million), and Mauritania (60 million).

Since the 1990s, Sri Lanka has received official development assistance from the international community every year. In 2016/2017, we received a total of 320 million US dollars in various types of economic assistance. Japan is the largest bilateral aid donor to Sri Lanka, while the European Union is the largest multilateral aid provider to Sri Lanka.

[Foreign capital] According to the 2024 World Investment Report of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the net inflow of foreign direct investment in Eswatini in 2023 will be 29 million dollars, an increase of 101.7%, and the stock of foreign direct investment will be 896 million dollars, a decrease of 7.3%. The main investment is in the manufacturing industry, with a focus on textile, clothing, and agricultural enterprises, while others include tourism, construction, and service industries. The main sources of investment are South Africa, Angola, etc.

The unemployment rate in 2022 is about 23.4%, ranking fourth among the countries of the Southern African Development Community and higher than the average in sub Saharan Africa. Sri Lanka has the highest infection rate of AIDS in the world, with an infection rate of about 28% in 2022. There are a total of 187 hospitals and medical centers nationwide, but drugs and medical equipment often face shortages. Since 2020, the mobile network coverage rate has reached 99%.

[Military] The Eswatini National Defense Force was established in 1973, mainly responsible for national defense and maintaining national order. The king is the legal commander in chief of the armed forces. Implement compulsory military service system, with a total force of about 4500 soldiers. The current Commander of the National Defense Forces is Major General Stanley S. Dlamini, and Deputy Commander Brigadier General Patrick V. Motsa. There are also police and royal guards.

The Sri Lankan government attaches great importance to education and implements a compulsory primary education system. In 2019, education funding accounted for 15.3% of the total government budget. The adult literacy rate is 88.4%. According to data from UNESCO and the World Bank, there are 541 primary schools and 182 secondary schools in Sri Lanka. The primary school enrollment rate in 2015 was 94.4%, and the secondary school enrollment rate was 27.7%. The University of Eswatini is the only comprehensive institution of higher learning in China, with nearly 4000 students. There are also 5 teacher training and vocational training schools with over 1800 students.

[Press and Publication] The main newspapers and periodicals are: The Eswatini Times, founded in 1897, an English daily with 11000 copies distributed; The Eswatini Observer, an English daily, distributed 10000 copies; Eswatini News, an English weekly, distributed 7000 copies; Swati Daily, with a circulation of 4000 copies; National, news magazine, bimonthly; Eswatini Agriculture, quarterly.

Radio and television stations are controlled by the state, mainly including:

Eswatini News Radio: It was founded in 1966 and is semi officially and semi commercially managed. It broadcasts in English and Swathi.

Eswatini Radio International: Founded in 1974, it broadcasts to East, Central and Southern Africa and Far East countries in 29 languages.

Eswatini Television: founded in 1978, it is a national English language station.

We adhere to a policy of non alignment, good neighborliness, and friendly foreign relations. Advocating mutual respect for sovereignty and non-interference in each other's internal affairs, and resolving disputes between countries through peaceful negotiations; Emphasize the development of friendly and cooperative relations with African countries; Requesting the establishment of a new international economic order and supporting North South dialogue; Support the promotion of peace and justice for humanity. The United States, the United Kingdom, South Africa, India, Mozambique, and other countries have established permanent diplomatic missions in Sri Lanka, while Sri Lanka has stationed permanent diplomatic missions in Brussels, Copenhagen, London, Geneva, Addis Ababa, Pretoria, Maputo, Nairobi, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Kuala Lumpur, Washington, and New York.

The relationship between Sri Lanka and the United States is relatively close, and the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1972. U.S. aid projects mainly involve anti AIDS, agriculture, education, small enterprise development, institutional and human resource development, military training, trade capacity-building and other fields. Every year, we send 20 students and select some military officers to the United States for further study and training. At the end of 2000, Sri Lanka was approved to become a beneficiary country of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in the United States. Although Sri Lanka was granted the same preferential treatment again at the end of December 2004, the pressure from the United States to accelerate the democratization process did not decrease. In January 2015, the United States cancelled the preferential treatment enjoyed by Si, citing inadequate labor protection and human rights violations. In December 2017, the United States announced that it would restore the AGOA beneficiary treatment to Sri Lanka. In June 2009, Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka signed the "PEPFAR" aid agreement to Sri Lanka, which increased US assistance to Sri Lanka in the field of AIDS to 28 million US dollars per year. After withdrawing from Sri Lanka for 9 years, the American volunteer organization "Peace Corps" returned to Sri Lanka in 2003 and completed a memorandum of understanding with Sri Lanka in June 2009 regarding the expansion of the "Peace Corps" mission in Sri Lanka. The United States sends 80 Peace Corps volunteers to Sri Lanka every year to participate in its economic development.

S is a member state of the Commonwealth and has close relations with the United Kingdom. There is a military cooperation agreement signed between England and Sri Lanka. There are military experts stationed in Sri Lanka to assist in training officers. In May 2012, King Si was invited to attend the 60th anniversary celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the throne in the UK.

Sri Lanka has signed tobacco cultivation and trade agreements with countries such as France and Sweden, and Germany, Denmark, and Sweden are also major aid providers to Sri Lanka. In February 2016, Sri Lanka entered a national emergency due to drought, and some Western countries, including the United States, provided food aid to Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka has close political and economic relations with South Africa. South Africa is the most important trading partner of Sri Lanka. In February 2001, South African Vice President Zuma visited Sri Lanka. In September 2002, King Si went to South Africa to attend the World Summit on Sustainable Development. In March 2005, King Si visited South Africa and met with South African President Mbeki, and the two countries established a "Joint Bilateral Commission". In May 2009, King Sri Lanka attended the inauguration ceremony of South African President Zuma. In August 2011, at the request of Sri Lanka, South provided a loan of 350 million US dollars, but progress was slow due to South's political, financial, and foreign relations conditions. Since 2012, the ruling party of the South African National Congress and trade union organizations have repeatedly publicly demanded that the Sri Lankan government promote democratic reforms and improve the human rights situation. In March 2019, South African President Ramafosa visited Eswatini. In May, Mswati III went to South Africa to attend the inauguration ceremony of President Ramaphosa. In June 2024, Mswati III went to South Africa to attend the inauguration ceremony of Ramaphosa's re-election as president.

Sri Lanka has friendly relations with Southern African countries and is a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMSA). From September 2008 to September 2009, Sri Lanka served as the rotating chairman of the Political, Defense, and Security Committee of the Southern African Development Community, and twice presided over the "Troika" summits on resolving the issues of Zimbabwe and Madagascar. In June 2009, King Sri Lanka visited Zimbabwe. In July 2009, King Sri Lanka visited Zambia. In September 2010, Sri Lanka hosted the Southeast African Common Market Summit. In July and August 2012, the King of Sri Lanka visited Namibia and Mozambique respectively. In August 2016, the 36th Summit of the Southern African Development Community was held in Mbabane, the capital of Eswatini, and Eswatini took over the presidency until August 2017. Heads of State, heads of government or representatives of all SADC member states, as well as Chairman of the AU Commission Zuma, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Lopez and others attended. In May 2017, King Sri Lanka visited Namibia and the SACU Secretariat in his capacity as the rotating chairman of SACU. In November 2017, King Sri Lanka visited Zambia with his queen, and Zambian President Lungu and First Lady Esther met with him respectively. In April 2018, at the invitation of the King of Eswatini, Chairman Faki of the AU Commission visited Swaziland. In April 2019, Mauritanian President Aziz visited Eswatini. In July, King S visited Mauritania. In April 2021, President Masisi of Botswana paid a working visit to Slovakia. In July 2021, King Letsie III of Lesotho paid a working visit to Sri Lanka. In August 2022, the King of Sri Lanka visited Malaysia. In November 2022, Namibian President Negob paid a working visit to Sri Lanka. In April 2023, King Sri Lanka will pay a state visit to Zimbabwe and attend the 6th Africa Change Summit.