His Majesty King Mswati III has returned to Eswatini after attending the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. He was accompanied by Inkhosikati LaNgangaza. A wave of jubilation greeted the king at the King Mswati III International Airport, with well-wishers singing and dancing to express their excitement and pride.
The king's arrival was marked by a grand welcome, with emakhosikati, emazinyane, and members of the royal family present. Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini, Cabinet ministers, members of Parliament, and various advisory councils were also in attendance. The atmosphere was lively, with Lacwebetelo adding to the celebratory mood.
The 81st UN General Assembly took place from September 22 to 28 under the theme "Restoring trust, managing transformation: a United Nations that delivers for all." In his address, King Mswati III emphasized the need for the international community to honor its climate finance commitments, particularly in Southern Africa, which is facing severe drought conditions due to the El Niño phenomenon.
The king highlighted the dual threat posed by El Niño, with drought expected in Southern Africa and heavy flooding in parts of Eastern Africa through early 2027. He stressed that developing countries, despite contributing minimally to global emissions, bear the brunt of extreme weather events and climate change. The king called for greater climate justice, including predictable climate financing and technology transfers.
King Mswati III also discussed food security initiatives in Eswatini, such as expanded State subsidies for subsistence farmers, increased investment in research, and accelerated construction of major dams to expand irrigation networks in the Lowveld. He urged the United Nations to enforce binding compliance with signed international peace agreements, warning that broken commitments can lead to conflict.
The king emphasized the importance of the African Union's Agenda 2063 and its aspiration to "silence the guns" and create stable conditions for sustainable economic growth. He called for the United Nations to move beyond being a platform for debate and become an institution that delivers concrete outcomes for ordinary people.
King Mswati III disclosed that Eswatini is looking to establish a permanent, dedicated United Nations headquarters in the kingdom, which would strengthen long-term diplomatic and developmental cooperation between Eswatini and the United Nations. The partnership between Eswatini and the UN remains vital in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals in areas such as health, tourism, education, and renewable energy.
Key points
- King Mswati III returns home after addressing the 81st UN General Assembly.
- The king emphasized the need for climate finance commitments and greater climate justice.
- Eswatini plans to establish a permanent UN headquarters in the kingdom.
