ADDIS ABABA, 13 February 2026 – His Excellency Sibusiswe Mngomezulu, Eswatini’s Ambassador to Brussels, is part of a delegation representing the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States in Addis Ababa ahead of the African Union Summit. The delegation includes OACPS Secretary-General His Excellency Moussa Saleh Batraki and met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Pholile Shakantu.
Mngomezulu said that Eswatini has consistently played a leading role in advancing the organisation’s objectives. “We have been involved in negotiations where we led the Africa Regional Protocol. Eswatini also played a key role last year when we presided over the chairmanship of both the Council of Ministers and the Committee of Ambassadors of the OACPS at a time when the organisation was undergoing transformation,” he said.
He added that the transformation process has introduced a comprehensive reform agenda to strengthen the organisation’s effectiveness and credibility. Regarding the upcoming AU Summit, Mngomezulu explained that the delegation is exploring ways to ensure OACPS maintains a strategic presence and is adequately capacitated to deliver on the objectives of its member states.
He further stated, “For the constitutive act to realise its objectives, member states must demonstrate commitment. His Majesty King Mswati III has therefore been invited to assume the role of Champion for Resource Mobilisation. It is through this assignment that His Majesty has commissioned us to galvanise member states and unite them in solidarity to pursue a common purpose namely the reconfiguration and repurposing of the OACPS. That is why we are here today.”
Eswatini handed over the Presidency of the OACPS Committee of Ambassadors and Council of Ministers to the Solomon Islands in September last year, in line with Article 20 of the Revised Georgetown Agreement, which provides for equitable rotation of leadership among the six regions of the organisation.
During Eswatini’s tenure, the Committee of Ambassadors focused on restoring financial stability and institutional credibility, promoting inclusivity, dialogue and consensus building, supporting new leadership, and advancing the Samoa Partnership Agreement. Achievements included the election of Moussa Saleh Batraki as Secretary-General, adoption of the PACTE reform initiative, nomination of a Champion for Resource Mobilisation, approval for a new OACPS headquarters, and launch of activities marking the 50th anniversary of the organisation. Preparations were also advanced for the 11th OACPS Summit of Heads of State and Government in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, scheduled for March 2026.
The Eswatini Presidency strengthened the OACPS EU Partnership by providing political guidance on implementing the Samoa Agreement, encouraging ratification, and reinforcing joint institutional frameworks. On the global stage, the Bureau amplified the voice of OACPS member states in critical international processes, including advisory proceedings at the International Court of Justice.
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