| Kingdom of Eswatini Umbuso weSwatini | |
|---|---|
 Flag
 Coat of arms
| |
 | |
| Capital | Mbabane (executive) Lobamba (legislative) |
| Largest city | Manzini |
| Official languages | English, Siswati |
| Government | Absolute monarchy |
• King | Mswati III |
• Queen | Ntfombi |
• Prime Minister | Cleopas Dlamini |
| Area | |
• Total | 17,364 km² |
| Population | |
• 2020 estimate | 1,160,164 |
Eswatini, officially the Kingdom of Eswatini, is a small country in Southern Africa. It is the only absolute monarchy in Africa. Until 2018, it was known as Swaziland.[1] The Communist Party of Swaziland was banned in 2011 but still operates with its headquarters in South Africa.[2] Eswatini has a high level of poverty, low life expectancy, and the worst HIV/AIDS epidemic in the world.[3]
History
Eswatini gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1968. It had a multi-party system until 1973, when King Sobhuza II repealed the constitution and established an absolute monarchy. He formed a standing army to defend the royal family. Sobhuza died in 1982 and his son, Mswati III, has ruled since then.[4]
Democracy Now
In 2019, the Communist Party of Swaziland began the Democracy Now campaign to end the monarchy. Non-communist parties such as the Ngwane National Liberatory Congress and People's United Democratic Movement are also involved in the struggle against Mswati.[4] Since May 2022, the monarchy's forces have killed over 100 protestors.[5]
Government
Eswatini holds elections to parliament every five years but political parties are not allowed to participate and the king can dissolve the parliament whenever he wants to.[4]
References
- ↑ Moses Tofa (2013-05-16). Swaziland: Wither absolute monarchism? Pambazuka News. Archived from the original on 2014-10-19. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
- ↑ "La lutte révolutionnaire continue au Swaziland : le Parti communiste affirme son soutien aux grèves et manifestations qui ébranlent la monarchie absolue Mswati" (2011-06-24). Solidarité Internationale PCF. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
- ↑ "Communist Party of Swaziland's 5th National Congress to be held on April 6-9" (2023-04-02). In Defense of Communism. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Pius Vilakati (2022-06-21). "Boiling Point: The Struggle against Capitalism and Monarchy in Swaziland" Red Africa. Archived from the original on 2022-06-23. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
- ↑ Eugene Puryear (2021-10-14). "Are the Days Numbered for Africa's Last Absolute Monarch" BreakThrough News. Retrieved 2022-12-20.