Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini has departed Eswatini to represent King Mswati III at the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda. The meeting, scheduled to take place in St John's from Sunday to Wednesday, will bring together leaders from the Commonwealth's 56 member countries. The theme of the meeting is 'Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth'. This gathering will discuss investment, economic development, and international cooperation.
The CHOGM meeting will focus on mobilising investment and strengthening partnerships to support sustainable development, trade, and economic growth across member states. Leaders will engage investors and development partners on investment-ready projects valued at approximately US$34 billion, submitted by 20 developing Commonwealth countries. These projects cover areas such as climate action, trade, and youth employment. The discussions will also address reducing barriers to trade among Commonwealth countries.
The programme will feature youth, women's, people's, and business forums, providing platforms for different sectors to contribute to discussions on the Commonwealth's development priorities. Leaders will also hold a retreat to discuss shared challenges and agree on priorities for future cooperation. The meeting will bring together leaders, ministers, business representatives, young people, and civil society organisations.
Following CHOGM, Dlamini will travel to Antalya, Türkiye, for the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 31) scheduled for November 9-20. COP31 is a major international negotiating forum under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The conference will focus on implementing existing climate commitments, accelerating the transition to cleaner energy, and strengthening countries' ability to respond to climate impacts.
Key issues to be discussed at COP31 include reducing greenhouse gas emissions, adapting to climate change, mobilising climate finance, and supporting communities vulnerable to droughts, floods, and other extreme weather events. A World Leaders' Summit is scheduled for November 11 and 12, when heads of State and government will discuss political priorities and accelerate action on climate change.
The conference will provide a platform for negotiations on how countries can implement the Paris Agreement, which seeks to limit global warming and strengthen international cooperation on climate action. Eswatini, as a developing country, will likely be impacted by the outcomes of these meetings, particularly in terms of climate change and economic development.
The Prime Minister's attendance at these meetings demonstrates Eswatini's commitment to international cooperation and development. The outcomes of CHOGM and COP31 will have implications for Eswatini, and the country will likely benefit from the partnerships and investments discussed during the meetings.
Key points
- Eswatini's Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini attends CHOGM 2026 and COP31 to discuss investment, economic development, and climate change.
- The CHOGM meeting will focus on mobilising investment and strengthening partnerships to support sustainable development.
- COP31 will focus on implementing existing climate commitments, accelerating the transition to cleaner energy, and strengthening countries' ability to respond to climate impacts.
