Eswatini

Eswatini, officially the Kingdom of Eswatini, is a landlocked monarchy in Southern Africa. It is bordered by South Africa to the west and south and by Mozambique to the northeast. The country covers about 17,364 square kilometers and has a population of roughly 1.3 million. Its terrain includes a fertile highveld in the west and the low-lying Lowveld to the east, with a subtropical climate and a rainy season from roughly October to April.

Eswatini has two capitals: Mbabane, the administrative capital, and Lobamba, which hosts the royal household and the legislative branches. The state is governed within a constitutional framework, but the king retains substantial powers. The bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate and the House of Assembly, and the prime minister serves as head of government. The current monarch is King Mswati III, who has reigned since 1986.

The economy is diversified, with agriculture (notably sugarcane and citrus), forestry, manufacturing, and services contributing to GDP. Textiles, a growing tourism sector, and remittances also play important roles. The Swazi lilangeni (SZL) is the official currency and is pegged to the South African rand, which circulates widely.

Eswatini has two official languages, siSwati and English. The country has a tradition-rich culture, including ceremonies such as the Umhlanga reed dance and the Incwala. Eswatini gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1968 and adopted the name Eswatini in 2018. It continues to navigate development challenges, including health and poverty indicators.