MBABANE – Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Senator Pholile Shakantu says the Kingdom of Eswatini believes international relations must be guided by mutual respect and cooperation rather than coercion and pressure, as global instability increasingly affects ordinary citizens.
Shakantu was speaking during the 3rd EU-Eswatini Partnership Dialogue held in Mbabane on Friday, where she addressed delegates on the regional and international context of relations between the European Union and the Kingdom of Eswatini.
In her intervention, the minister linked global geopolitical tensions to the rising cost of living faced by ordinary emaSwati, saying international conflicts and disruptions were no longer distant issues but realities directly affecting households and businesses.
She said the latest fuel price increase, the second in two months, demonstrated how developments beyond Eswatini’s borders had immediate consequences for citizens.
“Conflicts and instability in one region of the world can increase shipping costs for a small trader in Manzini. Disruptions to global energy markets can affect the price paid by a family travelling between Mbabane and Nhlangano,” she said.
Shakantu noted that rising fuel costs translated into higher transport expenses, increased food prices and additional pressure on already strained household incomes.
The minister said these challenges reinforced the importance of a stable and predictable international system based on cooperation, dialogue and partnerships instead of confrontation and division.
“For small developing states such as the Kingdom of Eswatini, these realities reinforce the importance of a stable, predictable and rules-based international system grounded on cooperation rather than confrontation, dialogue rather than division and partnership rather than coercion,” she said.
Shakantu reiterated Eswatini’s commitment to multilateralism, describing it as the most effective mechanism for addressing complex global challenges.
She said the country remained committed to the aspirations of the African Union Agenda 2063, particularly on peace, integration, industrialisation and sustainable development.
The minister also highlighted Eswatini’s recent election to the African Union Peace and Security Council for the 2025 to 2028 term, saying the kingdom viewed the position as an opportunity to contribute to preventive diplomacy, mediation and peacebuilding efforts across Africa.
“As a smaller state, Eswatini brings to the Peace and Security Council a perspective rooted in dialogue, consensus building and respect for sovereignty,” she said.
She further stressed that sustainable peace could only emerge through inclusive political processes, national ownership and development-centred solutions.
On global governance, Shakantu said Africa remained underrepresented in major international institutions and reiterated Eswatini’s support for reforms of the United Nations Security Council in line with the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.
“Africa’s underrepresentation within global governance structures remains a matter requiring urgent international attention if the multilateral system is to remain credible, representative and effective,” she said.
Regionally, the minister said the Southern African Development Community remained central to Eswatini’s foreign policy and regional engagement. She said Eswatini was fully committed to regional integration, collective security and stronger economic cooperation within Southern Africa.
Shakantu said the kingdom recognised the responsibility entrusted to it as Incoming Chair of the SADC Organ Troika on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation during a period marked by evolving governance, security and economic challenges within the region.
She said Eswatini continued to advocate for dialogue, solidarity and constructive engagement as the foundation for regional peace and stability.
The minister also expressed support for ongoing regional discussions aimed at developing principles and guidelines for the adoption of common foreign policy positions among SADC member states. According to Shakantu, such efforts should promote regional coherence while respecting the sovereign equality and national interests of member states.
Turning to broader international cooperation, the minister said Eswatini’s previous presidency of the Council of Ministers of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States reflected the country’s growing role in multilateral diplomacy and South-South cooperation.
She said it was significant that the partnership dialogue coincided with Eswatini hosting the OACPS Africa-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, bringing together parliamentarians and delegates from Africa and Europe. Shakantu described the gathering as evidence of the continued importance of dialogue and people-centred multilateral engagement during a period of increasing global uncertainty.
The minister also welcomed the implementation of the Samoa Agreement, saying the agreement remained an important framework for development cooperation, political dialogue, trade and climate action between the European Union and OACPS states.
She further welcomed the European Union’s Global Gateway Initiative, particularly its focus on sustainable infrastructure, digital transformation, education and skills development. “These are areas that provide important opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation between Africa and Europe,” she said.
Shakantu concluded by reaffirming Eswatini’s commitment to strengthening relations with the European Union and other international partners in advancing peace, sustainable development and effective multilateralism.
“At a time when the international community faces increasing fragmentation and uncertainty, there is greater need than ever for principled dialogue, solidarity and partnership grounded in mutual respect and shared responsibility,” she said.
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