eswatini

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Eswatini's King Mswati III addresses the United Nations General Assembly in 2019. Craig Ruttle/AP hide caption

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Craig Ruttle/AP

World

Pro-Democracy Protests Continue In Eswatini, Africa's Last Absolute Monarchy

July 16, 2021 • King Mswati III has ruled the country formerly known as Swaziland for 35 years. On Friday, he called the protests "satanic." Pro-democracy sentiment is growing, and analysts say turmoil will continue.

Swaziland Gets A Name Change: Call It eSwatini Now

Women march in the 2016 traditional Reed Dance at the royal palace in Lobamba. On Thursday, in celebration of the country's 50th year of independence, King Mswati III declared that he was changing the name of Swaziland to eSwatini. Mujahid Safodien/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Mujahid Safodien/AFP/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Swaziland Gets A Name Change: Call It eSwatini Now

April 20, 2018 • King Mswati III said the name change is intended to shed vestiges of the country's colonial past. In the Swazi language, eSwatini means "place of the Swazi."