Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, is an absolute monarchy ruled by King Mswati III alongside Queen Mother Ntombi. It is often described as the last absolute monarchy in Africa. In 2018 the king renamed the country from Swaziland to Eswatini, its name in the siSwati language.
The kingdom’s history reaches back to the 18th century under the early Swazi kings. Mbabane serves as the administrative capital, while Lobamba is the traditional and legislative capital. Political parties are restricted, and the country has faced criticism from human rights groups over limits on political participation and media freedom.
Eswatini has one of the world’s highest HIV prevalence rates, with about 27% of adults aged 15 and older living with HIV according to the SHIMS2 survey. The health system, together with international partners, continues to expand testing and treatment.
Swazi culture remains central to national life. The Umhlanga Reed Dance, held each year in August or September, and the Incwala ceremony in December or January draw thousands of participants. The country is a member of SADC, the African Union, and the United Nations.
Related African coverage on this site includes African wildlife conservation in Cape Town, savanna wildlife management in Kenya, and Horn of Africa studies in Mogadishu.

