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Eswatini

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Eswatini is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa.

Location Eswatini AU Africa
Location Eswatini AU Africa

It is surrounded by South Africa on almost all sides. To the northeast, it shares a border with Mozambique. The nation is one of the smallest in Africa. It is known for its diverse topography and climate. The landscape ranges from the cool, mountainous highveld to the hot, dry lowveld.

Eswatini Topography
Eswatini Topography

The country serves as a unique political entity in the region. It is an absolute monarchy, which is the last of its kind in Africa.

The geography of Eswatini creates distinct environmental zones. The highveld regions are characterized by mountains and cooler temperatures. In contrast, the lowveld areas are much hotter and drier. This variety in landforms supports different types of life and activity. The country's physical layout influences where people live and how they work. Most people find employment in the agricultural or manufacturing sectors. These sectors drive much of the local economy.

Eswatini landscape
Eswatini landscape

Eswatini's history is rooted in ancient human activity. Artifacts show that humans were active in the region during the Early Stone Age. This period dates back approximately 200,000 years. Later, the Khoisan hunter-gatherers were the earliest known inhabitants. They were eventually replaced by the Nguni people during the Bantu migrations. These groups moved from the Great Lakes region of central and eastern Africa. They brought cattle, seeds, and iron technology with them.

Récipient Swazi
Récipient Swazi

The Swazi kingdom was established in the mid-18th century. It began under the leadership of Ngwane III. The country was originally called KaNgwane, meaning the country of Ngwane. Later, King Mswati II expanded and unified the nation. He was a powerful fighting king in the 19th century. The names Swaziland and Eswatini both come from his name. In April 2018, the king officially changed the name to Eswatini. This name is the one commonly used in the Swazi language.

Colonial history significantly shaped the modern borders of the nation. During the European Scramble for Africa, the boundaries were drawn in 1881. Following the Second Boer War, Swaziland became a British high commission territory in 1903. This status lasted until the country regained full independence on 6 September 1968. During the colonial era, land ownership became a complex issue. King Mbandzeni granted many concessions to Europeans for agriculture and grazing. In 1910, a commissioner set aside 1,639,687 acres for the Swazi people. This represented about 38% of the total area of the country.

Today, Eswatini operates under a specific political structure. It is an absolute monarchy ruled by King Mswati III since 1986.

Mswati III King of Eswatini
Mswati III King of Eswatini

While elections are held every five years, political parties are prohibited from running. These elections determine the majority in the Senate and the House of Assembly. The government also follows a constitution adopted in 2005. Economically, Eswatini is classified as a lower-middle income country. Its currency, the lilangeni, is pegged to the South African rand to ensure stability.

Central Bank of Eswatini
Central Bank of Eswatini

The nation faces specific demographic and health challenges. The population is quite young, with a median age of 22 years. People aged 14 or younger make up 35% of the total population. The country also deals with widespread health issues like HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. In 2018, the adult population with HIV was 28%. This has impacted the life expectancy, which was 58 years in 2018. Despite these challenges, Eswatini remains an active member of many global groups. It belongs to the United Nations, the African Union, and the Commonwealth of Nations.

Eswatini-demography
Eswatini-demography
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🖼️ Images & Media (19)
Nkulunkulu Mnikati wetibusiso temaSwati...
File:Eswatini on the globe (special marker) (Madagascar centered).svg
Eswatini on the globe (special marker)...
File:Location Eswatini AU Africa.svg
Location Eswatini AU Africa.svg
File:Swazi house.jpg
Swazi house.jpg
File:Swazi home.jpg
Swazi home.jpg
File:Récipient Swazi.jpg
Récipient Swazi.jpg
File:Johnston, W. and A.K. - South African Republic. Orange Free State, Natal, Basuto Land, Etc..jpg
Johnston, W. and A.K. - South African...
File:Swaziland 1897 - Johnston, W. and A.K. - South African Republic. Orange Free State, Natal, Basuto Land, Etc. (cropped).jpg
Swaziland 1897 - Johnston, W. and A.K. -...
File:Eswatini Topography.png
Eswatini Topography.png
File:Eswatini landscape.jpg
Eswatini landscape.jpg
File:גרויה שעירה - Grewia villosa.jpg
גרויה שעירה - Grewia villosa.jpg
File:Mswati III King of Eswatini.jpg
Mswati III King of Eswatini.jpg

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