Swaziland Country Report

A small landlocked country between South Africa and Mozambique, Eswatini is one of the last few absolute monarchies in the world. Although the country has enjoyed more political stability than many other countries in the region and has become a popular tourist destination, economic development has been far from equal and poverty remains widespread, with well over half the population living below the poverty line. The country actively pursues foreign investment but corruption remains a major hurdle and many companies operating in Eswatini have reported frequent requests for bribes as well as lucrative positions for members of the royal family and other political elites.

The primary threat to foreign travelers comes from criminal activity. Although crime levels are relatively low by regional standards, opportunistic theft and robbery, as well as less frequent violent incidents and carjackings, do occur and have been increasing in recent years. Eswatini is generally stable but protests and strikes over socio-economic issues and political demands are occasionally held in the country's urban centers. Electricity, telecommunications and utilities infrastructure is generally limited outside of urban centers and can make commercial operations difficult in rural areas.

HIV/AIDS is a major public health concern in Eswatini and poses one of the most significant challenges to its long-term socio-economic development. The country has the highest prevalence rate of HIV in the world, with more than a quarter of the adult population living with the disease, and also suffers from a high prevalence of tuberculosis, with both contributing towards a serious public health crisis which the government has long struggled to tackle.

On 19 April 2018, King Mswati III announced that Swaziland had officially changed its name to Eswatini. The name has been adopted by the country's government and other institutions and has begun to be accepted into common usage by several international organizations and diplomatic missions. However, the name Swaziland remains in widespread informal use.

The most significant threat to foreign travelers in Eswatini comes from criminal activity. Although crime levels are low by regional standards, opportunistic theft and robberies, as well as less frequent violent incidents and carjackings, do occur and criminal activity is believed to have been increasing in recent years. Crime is a particular concern in the downtown areas of Mbabane and Manzini, where the threat from robberies increases significantly at night. Carjackings and highway banditry also occasionally occur in more rural areas of the country, particularly on routes into the country from South Africa and Mozambique.

While Eswatini is generally stable, protests and strikes over socio-economic issues and political demands are occasionally held in the country's urban centers. Demonstrations generally remain peaceful but some, particularly those critical of the monarchy, have been aggressively dispersed by security forces using tear gas and rubber bullets.

There are no significant conflict or terrorism threats facing travelers in Eswatini, although such rhetoric is occasionally used in reference to political opposition groups.

The standard of safety oversight within Eswatini's aviation industry is considered to be below that in many more developed countries but standards are believed to be improving and domestic airlines have been removed from the European Union blacklist.

The road network in Eswatini is largely underdeveloped, particularly in rural areas. Road travel in the country is hazardous due to badly maintained roads, inadequate lighting and poor local driving standards. The country has a relatively high road traffic fatality rate with many accidents being attributed to speeding or collisions with animals on rural roads.

Electricity and communications infrastructure is generally considered adequate in Mbabane and Manzini but is limited in more remote areas.

Eswatini's climate varies by altitude, with the upland areas in the west of the country generally remaining more temperate than low-lying areas. The country generally experiences a warm, wet summer season from November to April and a cooler, drier winter from May to October. While flooding is rare, seasonal rains from November to April can be heavy and impede travel. Higher temperatures during the dry season can also lead to wildfires in some areas.

HIV/AIDS is a major public health concern in Eswatini and poses one of the most significant challenges to its socio-economic development. The country has the highest prevalence rate of HIV in the world, with more than a quarter of the population living with the disease. Medical facilities are also limited in the country with any serious injuries or emergencies requiring evacuation to South Africa. The healthcare system also suffers from inadequate supplies of even basic pharmaceuticals and more specialist prescription medication may be extremely difficult to acquire.

While there are no immediate threats to the stability of the monarchy, popular discontent has grown over deteriorating economic conditions, the King’s lavish lifestyle, and demands for greater political freedom. Corruption is pervasive and remains a significant hurdle for foreign investment. The judiciary is also prone to political interference and the effectiveness of the police is hampered by a lack of resources and corruption.