Tsai Ing-wen, president of Taiwan, began a state visit to eSwatini on Monday, marking 55 years of diplomatic relations with the last remaining African nation to honor the sovereignty of the island nation claimed by China. But South Africa’s Democratic Alliance (DA) issued a statement claiming that it, too, supports…
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
On the whole, communities on the African continent have made greater strides in life expectancy than in any other region of the world, according to a new assessment report from the World Health Organization (WHO). The life expectancy of Africans went up by an average 10 years per person between…
The government of Botswana issued a travel advisory for South Africa on Tuesday because of violent protests that followed former president Jacob Zuma’s surrender to authorities and subsequent imprisonment. Zuma, long entangled by corruption inquiries and investigations, was sentenced last week to 15 months on contempt of court charges for…
The southern African nation of eSwatini has denied reports that its controversial monarch, King Mswati III, has left the country as protesters demand pro-democracy government reforms. In a statement issued Tuesday, Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku said the king “is in the country and continues to lead” while citing false…
By Pholile Dlamini Shakantu South Africa’s apex court recently handed down a judgement declaring that independent candidates who desire to stand for election – whether it be for provincial or national seats – are permitted by law to do so. In light of this judgement, I am compelled to draw…
It’s been 10 days since the first reports that King Mswati III of Eswatini, right, had tested positive for COVID-19, and now southern African media outlets appear to be confirming the case. But the government insists the reports are rumors and condemned them in a statement Monday. “This is purely…
In eSwatini, prominent human rights defender Thulani Maseko confirmed Friday that leaders associated with the political opposition party People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) were taken to police headquarters in the Mbabane capital. He was one of a number of activists in the former Swaziland to condemn the action, which they…
The Southern Africa Litigation Centre is celebrating a significant victory for married women in eSwatini, after the country’s high court ruled Friday that the existing common-law doctrine discriminates against women and denies their constitutional rights to equality. “Marital power refers to the archaic common law doctrine that a husband has…
Public workers in eSwatini plan a national strike Wednesday, in order to protest working conditions in key sectors of the country’s chronically troubled economy. According to the Swazi Observer, the four main public unions – for teachers, nurses, government accountants and a broader public service group – made the decision…
The government of eSwatini says it’s waiting to see more evidence that King Mswati III is in possession of USD$30 million, allegedly sent to South Africa by former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi before his 2011 death and then later shipped from South Africa to his nation. Spokesman Percy Simelane told…
The Kingdom of eSwatini was abuzz Thursday as King Mswati III departed from historical precedent – at least on paper – and invited the southern African monarchy’s citizens to help choose a new prime minister. The king began a traditional “people’s parliament” known as Sibaya, held at the Ludzidzini Royal…
A new report from the Amnesty International NGO focuses on forced evictions in eSwatini, where hundreds of people have been left homeless by land policies controlled by Swazi elites. The report looks at two cases that capture the impacts of eSwatini’s land governance system, which keeps most land held in…
King Mswati III of eSwatini (formerly Swaziland) has arrived in Taiwan for a week-long visit to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries – a journey not lost on officials in the People’s Republic of China, since eSwatini is the last African nation to maintain its diplomatic…
The news Thursday from the Kingdom of eSwatini was that King Mswati III announced his southern African nation will no longer be known as Swaziland. What that means in reality is that many of the roughly 1.4 million people who live there will use the same name they’ve always used,…