Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)

Main article: Africa

Foreign policy

2023: Refusal to condemn Russia in Ukraine conflict

2020: Friendship with Taiwan in defiance of Chinese pressure

In early 2020, the PRC blackmails the kingdom of Eswatini, demanding to break off diplomatic relations with Taiwan under the threat of stopping all political and economic contacts between the countries. Acting as a "carrot and carrot," in 2019, the PRC authorities organized an introductory tour for the kingdom's parliamentarians to study the benefits of cooperation with mainland China, but, without meeting understanding, on January 10, 2020, the PRC closed all embassies and consular centers for Swaziland residents to obtain a Chinese visa, with the exception of the PRC representative office in Pretoria (South Africa).

The PRC is desperately seeking diplomatic isolation of the Republic of China. After Burkina Faso severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 2018, the tiny mountain kingdom of Eswatini remained the last African country to recognize the Republic of China. Therefore, the representatives of the PRC are determined to continue to put pressure on Eswatini, including through the structures of the African Union and the UN.

Taipei's position on the international stage is weakening. Behind him are the tiny and, as it is believed, insignificant states of America, Africa and Oceania. After Taiwan lost Kiribati and the Solomon Islands in September 2019, the number of states recognizing the island's sovereignty decreased to 16.

But Mswati III, the extravagant ruler of a small and proud South African country, defies any provocation. The benefits of cooperation with the weakening self-governing island overlap the prospects for interaction with the PRC. Taiwan needs Eswatini much more than Eswatini in Taiwan, and is ready to invest more in the country, getting less. In 2018 alone, trade in countries grew by more than 40% and by the end of 2019 reached 10.7 million dollars US, rising in the structure of Taiwan's foreign trade turnover from 156 to 128th place. And since December 2018, after the entry into force of the new trade agreement, Swaziland honey, meat, avocado, sugar, wood and vegetables have been imported into Taiwan duty-free (total duties have been removed from 153 export positions).

There are 20 textile Taiwanese companies in the kingdom, which created 13 thousand jobs and invested $80 million in the economy, electrified Taiwanese funds in the country, rebuilt the airport, memorial park and several enterprises in Matsap.

According to the Zangaro Today telegram channel, countries support intensive cultural exchange and a variety of cultural, educational and humanitarian programs: Taiwanese doctors work in Swaziland hospitals, including a hospital built with Taiwanese funds, and Swazi students study in Taiwan. The king's son graduated from the Taiwanese Military Academy in the summer of 2018.

Mswati III himself, crowned back in 1986, visited Taiwan as many as 17 times. And in December 2019, representatives of the Taiwanese embassy were even invited to participate in the Inquala ceremony - the main national festival of Eswatini.

Economy

GDP $4,093 per person

Alcohol market

Minimum age to purchase alcoholic beverages

The richest entrepreneurs

Consumption

Meat

2023: Beef is the most consumed type of meat

Cereals

2019: Average rice consumption: 36.1 kg per person per year

Vegetables

2018: Vegetable consumption - 30 kg per capita

Eswatini IT Market

2022: No start-up industry

Power

Electrification

Energy carriers

2020: Energy consumption per capita

and

Foreign trade

2023:18% of wheat supplies come from Russia and Ukraine

2022: US is the biggest export destination

Population

Main article: Population of Africa

Migration

2021: Net outflow over 4 years

Overweight

Mortality

Traffic safety

Automobile traffic

Eswatini is a left-handed country.

Education

Percentage of people who can read

Health care

2021: Maternity leave

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2020: Duration of guaranteed paid sick leave from 1 to 2.9 months

Crime

Prisons

2022: Minimum age for children to be jailed

2018: Number of prisoners per 100 thousand citizens

History

2018: Renaming the country Eswatini

In 2018, Mswati III renamed his country Eswatini because Swaziland, or Swaziland, was often confused with Switzerland (Switzerland).

1968: Gaining independence from Britain

In the XX century, the country actually became a colony of Britain, having the status of a "crown colony." Independence gained in 1968.

1914

XIX century: Formation of the state

At the beginning of the 19th century, the Swazi successfully conquered the territories of neighboring tribes, so a state was formed that was subordinate to King Mswati I.

Culture

Holidays

Main article: World Festival Calendar

King Father's Birthday

For 2019, the country is ruled by Mswati III, he has 15 wives and lives on a wide leg, while he prefers the traditional style in clothes. However, while he has not yet broken the record of his father Sobhuza II, who had more than 100 wives.

The peculiarity of the national holidays of South African countries is that some are directly related to the birthdays of rulers and presidents. Sobkhuza II organized himself such during his lifetime, and for 2019 on July 22, the country honors and honors the memory of the late king.

Umhlanga: Reed Dance

Each year, the rulers of Eswatini choose their wife during the traditional Umhlang celebration, or Reed Dance. Each year, at the beginning of autumn, up to 70,000 half-naked girls wishing to become one of the king's wives dance in front of him and the audience.

The celebration goes on for three days, and the climactic dance can last several hours. Still, you need to be the best to charm such a king.

Sport

2022: The most popular sport is football

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Calendar