On September 6, 2026, the Kingdom of Eswatini will celebrate the 58^th anniversary of its independence, gained from the United Kingdom in 1968. Also known as Somhlolo Day—in honor of King Ngwane IV, known as Somhlolo, the founding figure of the Swazi kingdom—this commemoration is one of Southern Africa’s oldest national traditions, marked annually by grand ceremonies at the national stadium in Lobamba.

As the continent’s last absolute monarchy, Eswatini—ruled by King Mswati III since 1986—maintains a unique institutional model where ancestral traditions and a modern constitutional framework coexist. The country is a member of the African Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and continues to assert its role in regional integration dynamics.

On the occasion of this anniversary, the Director-General of CAFRAD, Dr. Coffi Dieudonné Assouvi, extends his sincere congratulations to His Majesty King Mswati III, Sovereign of the Kingdom of Eswatini, as well as to the Swazi people and authorities. The Organization reaffirms its commitment to supporting all its member states, including the Kingdom of Eswatini, in strengthening their administrative and institutional capacities—a key factor for sustainable development benefiting their populations.

CAFRAD wishes the people of Eswatini a happy Independence Day.