Bilateral relations Switzerland–Eswatini

Switzerland has set out a strategy for sub-Saharan Africa for 2021–24.

Eswatini is represented in Switzerland from Brussels. Switzerland maintains diplomatic relations with Eswatini from its representation in Pretoria.

Treaty database

Sub-Saharan Africa Strategy 2021–24 (PDF, 48 Pages, 3.1 MB, English)

Direct trade between the two countries is very modest; most Swiss products sold in Eswatini are imported via South Africa. Eswatini is a member of the Southern African Customs Union (together with South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho and Namibia) and is a partner in the existing free trade agreement between the Customs Union and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

Researchers who are citizens of Eswatini can apply to the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships.

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists, SERI

As part of the 2018–22 regional programme for southern Africa of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Switzerland supports food security and HIV/AIDS projects. Three projects in Eswatini are ongoing, but there will be a gradual reduction in Swiss funding by 2024 in line with Switzerland's International Cooperation Strategy 2021–24.

Development cooperation and humanitarian aid

According to the statistics on the Swiss abroad, at the end of 2020 there were 24 Swiss nationals living in Eswatini; 12 Eswatini nationals were living in Switzerland.

In 1968 the Federal Council recognised the independence of former British protectorate Eswatini (then Swaziland) and accredited the Swiss ambassador in Pretoria (South Africa) to represent Switzerland before the Ngwenyama of Swaziland.

In 1986 South African soldiers abducted two Swiss nationals in what was then Swaziland. Diplomatic intervention led to their release and an apology from the South African foreign minister.

Eswatini, Historical Dictionary of Switzerland (de, fr, it)