Government & politics — Eswatini
Government structure, legal system, citizenship, and international relations.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Government & politics at a glance
Government structure, legal system, citizenship, and international relations. Key figure for Eswatini: Kingdom of Eswatini
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Identity & names
- Full Country Name
Kingdom of Eswatini
- Country Name
Eswatini Note: pronounced ay-swatini or eh-swatini
- Local - Long
Umbuso weSwatini
- Local - Short
eSwatini
- Pronunciation
ay-swatini
- Former Name
Swaziland
- Etymology- history of name
The country name derives from 19th century King MSWATI II, under whose rule Swati territory was expanded and unified
- Independence
6 September 1968 (from the UK)
- National Holiday
Independence Day (Somhlolo Day), 6 September (1968)
Political system
- Government Type
Absolute monarchy
- Constitution
- History: Previous 1968, 1978; latest signed by the king 26 July 2005,
- effective 8 February 2006 Amendments: Proposed at a joint sitting of both houses of Parliament; passage requires majority vote by both houses and/or majority vote in a referendum, and assent of the king; passage of amendments affecting "specially entrenched" constitutional provisions requires at least three-fourths majority vote by both houses, passage by simple majority vote in a referendum, and assent of the king; passage of "entrenched" provisions requires at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses, passage in a referendum, and assent of the king
- Legal System:
Mixed legal system of civil, common, and customary law
- Executive Branch:
- King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986) Head of Government: Prime M
- inister Russell Mmiso DLAMINI (since 3 November 2023) Cabinet: Cabinet recommended by the prime minister, confirmed by the monarch; at least one-half of the cabinet membership must be appointed from among el
- ected members of the House of Assembly Elections/Appointments: The monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch from among members of the House of Assembly
- Legislative Branch:
Description
Bicameral Parliament (Libandla) consists of: Senate (30 seats; 20 members appointed by the monarch and 10 indirectly elected by simple majority vote by the House of Assembly; members serve 5-year terms) House of Assembly (70 seats statutory, current 69; 59 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies or tinkhundla by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed, 10 members appointed by the monarch, 4 women, one each representing each region, elected by the members if representation of elected women is less than 30%, and 1 ex-officio member - the attorney general; members serve 5-year terms)
Elections
Senate - last election held on 12 October 2023 , senate fully constituted on November 5 when monarch appointed remaining 20 senators; (next to be held in 2028) House of Assembly - last held on 29 September 2023 (next to be held in 2028)
Election Results
- - Senate - percent of seats by party - NA
- seats by party - NA;
Composition
- men 17, women 13, percent of women 43% House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA
- seats by party - independent 59;
Composition
men 58, women 12, percent of women 17.14%;
Note
total Parliament percent of women 4.1%
- Judicial Branch:
- Highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and at least 4 justices) and the High Court (consists of the chief justice - ex officio - and 4 justices); note - the Supreme Court has jurisdiction in
- all constitutional matters Judge selection and term of office: Justices of the Supreme Court and High Court appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), a judicial advisory body consisting of the Supreme Court Chief Justice, 4 members appointed by the monarch, and the chairman of the Civil Service Commission; justices of both courts eligible for retirement at
- age 65 with mandatory retirement at age 75 Subordinate courts: Magistrates' courts; National Swazi Courts for administering customary/traditional laws (jurisdiction restricted to customary law for Swazi citizens)
- Regions or States:
4 regions; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni
- Political Parties and Leaders:
- Political parties exist but conditions for their operations, particularly in elections, are undefined, legally unclear, or culturally restricted
- the following are considered political associations: African United Democratic Party or AUDP [Stanley S. MALINDZISA]
- Ngwane National Liberatory Congress or NNLC [Sibongile MAZIBUKO]
- People's United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO [Mlungisi MAKHANYA]
- Swazi Democratic Party or SWADEPA [Jan SITHOLE]
- Suffrage:
18 years of age
- Citizenship Criteria:
- No Citizenship by descent only: Both par
- No Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Capital & time
- Capital Name
Mbabane (administrative capital); Lobamba (royal and legislative capital)
- Capital - geographic coordinate
26 19 S, 31 08 E
- Capital Time Difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
International role
- International Organization Participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
- International Law Organization Participation:
Accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt
- Diplomatic Representation from US:
Chief of Mission
Ambassador (vacant) Charges d'Affaires Caitlin PIPER (since 27 October 2023) Embassy: Corner of MR 103 and Cultural Center Drive, Ezulwini, P.O. Box D202, The Gables, H106 Mailing address: 2350 Mbabane Place, Washington DC 20521-2350
Telephone
FAX
[268] 2416-3344
Email address and website
- MBACONSULAR@state.gov
- https://sz.usembassy.gov/
- Diplomatic Representation in the US:
Chief of Mission
Ambassador Kennedy Fitzgerald GROENING (7 June 2022)
Chancery
1712 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Telephone
[1] (202) 234-5002
FAX
[1] (202) 234-8254
Email address and website
- embassy@eswatini-usa.com