For its autocratic African ally, Taiwan bites its tongue and opens its wallet

Eswatini probably does not register on most people’s mental maps. Its relatively recent name might sound unfamiliar as many people still know it as Swaziland.

That it demands attention from pundits like yours truly has much to do with it being the only African country that still formally recognises Taiwan. It is also the continent’s only absolute monarchy. The two facts are closely connected. Recognising Taipei makes little sense when every one of eSwatini’s neighbours recognises Beijing, but it makes perfect sense for the only system of government this kingdom of about 1.2 million people has known since independence from Britain in 1968.

King Mswati III is the son of King Sobhuza II, the first post-independence ruler, and one of his 70 wives. The kingdom briefly made headlines in 2023 when human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko, who had spent years agitating for an end to absolute monarchy, was shot dead in his home. The government denied that its security forces were responsible. While major governments condemned the killing, Taipei stayed silent.