THE king of Swaziland, one of the world’s few absolute monarchs, has renamed his country eSwatini.
Meaning ‘place of the Swazi’, eSwatini is the original Swazi name for the tiny landlocked nation between South Africa and Mozambique. Unlike some African countries, Swaziland did not change its name when it gained independence in 1968, having been a British protectorate for more than 60 years. But the former name upset some citizens because it combines Swazi and English.
King Mswati III, pictured, declared the change during celebrations to mark 50 years of independence – and his own 50th birthday. Crowned in 1986 at 18, he rules by decree, but is often criticised for having a lavish lifestyle while many of his 1.3million subjects live in poverty.
© Daily Mail
