Israel looks to move its Swazi embassy back to Mbabane from Pretoria

by | Oct 26, 2024

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After closing its Swazi embassy in 1994, Israel seems to feel more welcome in the kingdom again. But the King's communist opposition accuses him of being a Jewish puppet

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The small kingdom of Eswatini has long maintained diplomatic ties with Israel, a relationship stretching back over half a century. While Israel contends with increasing international isolation over its actions in Gaza and Lebanon, Eswatini seems to be among the few African nations strengthening its alignment with Tel Aviv.

This shift may herald a significant change in diplomatic presence: the possible re-establishment of an Israeli embassy in Eswatini, Africa’s last absolute monarchy. Israel previously operated a diplomatic mission in Mbabane, the kingdom’s capital, until it was shuttered in 1994, with relations thereafter managed through Pretoria, South Africa. Yet, as South Africa leads the global charge against Israel’s actions in Gaza, the prospect of moving the embassy to Eswatini grows. Officials from both nations, however, remain characteristically reserved on the matter.

Newman Ntshangase, principal secretary at Eswatini’s Foreign Ministry, remarked in June that talks over the embassy are “at a high level,” although no formal agreement has been reached. Eswatini’s government has expressed a “positive” outlook on the possible diplomatic expansion, though Israeli authorities have yet to confirm any immediate plans.

Despite reservations among Eswatini’s opposition, royal spokesperson Percy Simelane emphasized the kingdom’s sovereign right to choose its partners independently. The kingdom, he asserted, is at liberty to pick its diplomatic partners just like any other country. Thokozane Kunene of the Communist Party of Swaziland, however, criticized the relationship as one of exploitation and “collusion”, alleging that Israeli influence extends deeply into the kingdom’s political and security apparatus.

Eswatini’s government has previously faced scrutiny over its dealings with Israeli firms. In 2018, investigative reports exposed the government’s payments to Clayford Holdings Corp, an intelligence company with Israeli ties, for controversial arms and security technologies. Last year, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists reported on Eswatini’s acquisition of advanced surveillance technology from an Israeli firm, sparking further concerns over citizen privacy.

Critics argue that Israel’s potential embassy relocation to Eswatini carries troubling symbolism. Petros Magagula, a former political science lecturer, warned that hosting Israel in light of its actions in Gaza could imply tacit endorsement of those policies. Such a move, he added, risks further entrenching Eswatini’s monarchy, evoking parallels with Israel’s former alignment with apartheid South Africa.

The decision to host an Israeli mission could also strain Eswatini’s relationships within the Arab world, from which it has historically received development aid. Though the kingdom’s foreign policy has leaned towards the Arab bloc, Mswati’s administration has emphasized Eswatini’s membership in the Non-Aligned Movement, urging Arab nations to respect its diplomatic stance. Simelane, the royal spokesperson, dismissed fears of reprisal, pointing to other nations that maintain ties with Israel without damaging their Arab relationships.

As Eswatini navigates these diplomatic waters, the prospect of hosting Israel’s embassy has sparked renewed debate over the monarchy’s alliances, raising questions of sovereignty, security, and the influence of foreign powers within Africa’s smallest monarchy.

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