BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – Eswatini has, this year, been able to establish relations with not less nine countries this year.
Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini said Eswatini established diplomatic relations with three countries this year, while signing joint cooperation agreements with not less than six. Dlamini said this today, Friday, December 27, 2024 at Private and Cabinet Offices at Hospital Hill, Mbabane. The PM was delivering Government’s Performance Progress Report.
“In the current year, Government established diplomatic relations with Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Saudi Arabia, and with the guidance of His Majesty the King, Government signed Joint Cooperation Agreements and several Memoranda of Understanding with a number of countries, including Uganda, UAE, Serbia, Indonesia, Rwanda, Türkiye and others,” Dlamini said.
Dlamini reminded the nation about the importance of being in diplomatic relations with other countries, stating that the Kingdom of Eswatini did not operate in isolation. He said the country was part of the international community, hence the country recognised and valued the importance of continuous engagement with existing and prospective diplomatic and development partners. “We value the mutual support that emanates from such relations,” He said.
The premier further mentioned that Government was pleased to have successfully negotiated for the removal of special paragraphs on Eswatini at the SADC Troika agenda and the International Labour Organisation (ILO). “Government will continue to re-evaluate the value and benefit of the country’s membership in international organisations that we subscribe to,” He said.
During the course of the year, Dlamini said Government had fruitful engagements with several groups of the international community, wherein updates and Government’s position on areas of development cooperation, human rights and governance were provided. A report on alleged human rights violations was presented during the political dialogue with Embassies of countries under the European Union wherein issues of the murdered Chief, State Security officers and Mr. Thulani Maseko were also discussed, according to the PM.
Dlamini also informed the nation that Government seized available opportunities in international forums to promote the Tinkhundla system of governance. He said his administration would continue to engage on proper understanding of Eswatini’s home-grown system of governance. “A presentation on Tinkhundla was delivered at the Pan African Parliament following an invitation to discuss our system of governance,” he concluded.
