Sobhuza II's Royal Decree in Swaziland
Swaziland became independent in 1968 with a Westminster-style constitution and a monarch as head of state. The arrangement lasted until an opposition party won three seats in the 1972 election and a court challenged the government's attempt to deport one of its winning candidates. Sobhuza, who had reigned since 1899 and would become the longest-verified-reigning monarch in history, responded by repealing the constitution entirely, describing it as an alien import unsuited to Swazi tradition. Parties remain banned. A 2005 constitution restored some rights on paper while confirming that executive authority rests with the king; parliament is partly appointed and cannot initiate legislation against the throne. The country was renamed Eswatini in 2018 by royal proclamation. Protests in 2021 demanding constitutional monarchy were suppressed with dozens of deaths, and Eswatini has among the world's highest HIV prevalence rates alongside a well-publicised royal expenditure.
- Year: 1973 CE
- Category: Political
