BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – His Majesty King Mswati III has pledged Eswatini’s full commitment to strengthening peace, security, and development across the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The King made this announcement on 24 August 2025 at the Ludzidzini Royal Residence, following his return from Madagascar where he attended the 25th Ordinary SADC Summit held in Antananarivo.
During the summit, Eswatini was appointed as Deputy Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, commonly known as the Troika. Malawi currently chairs the Troika, with Eswatini as its deputy—a position that places the Kingdom in line to assume the chairmanship next year.
However, His Majesty made it clear that Eswatini’s responsibility to advance peace and stability must begin immediately.
“Eswatini must begin now to play its role in strengthening peace and security within SADC. We cannot wait until next year to take action,” he said.
Understanding the SADC Troika
The Troika is one of the most critical structures within SADC, mandated to ensure peace, security, and political stability in the region. Its role includes conflict prevention, management, and resolution, as well as supporting democratic processes and promoting good governance.
Given the challenges facing Southern Africa—including political tensions, cross-border insecurity, and the need for stronger regional cooperation—the Troika plays a vital role in safeguarding the region’s collective peace and prosperity.
Eswatini’s Rising Role
Eswatini’s appointment as Deputy Chairperson underscores the country’s growing influence within the regional bloc. As next year’s chair-in-waiting, the Kingdom will be expected to lead high-level discussions on security cooperation, crisis response, and long-term peacebuilding initiatives.
His Majesty revealed that the summit agreed SADC will now hold two key meetings annually: the Ordinary SADC Summit and the SADC Troika Summit. This new arrangement aims to improve coordination and provide more frequent platforms to address pressing peace and security concerns.
The King described Eswatini’s appointment as both an honour and a responsibility, noting that it aligns with the nation’s tradition of promoting unity and stability.
Commitment to Regional Stability
Analysts have described Eswatini’s new role as a unique opportunity for the country to demonstrate leadership on the regional stage. By engaging proactively in Troika activities, Eswatini is expected to contribute to conflict resolution efforts and the advancement of development goals across Southern Africa.
SADC Development
The king said maintaining the peace and stability within SADC was vital for economic development. He said SADC countries had a responsibility of developing their economies and making the lives of their people better. For that to happen, peace, security and stability is crucial, according to the king. The king praised the development initiatives undertaken by Madagascar. He said they had an opportunity to witness a huge highway that was being built by the Government of that country. The highway would connect the rest of the island nation from Antananarivo to its ports and other parts.
