France and Eswatini

Political relations and visits

France’s political relations with Eswatini are good but limited. The King made an official visit to Paris in 1999 and took part in the Africa-France Summits in Cannes (February 2007) and Nice (June 2010). Prime Minister Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini represented the King at the Élysée Summit for Peace and Security in Africa held in December 2013. The Prime Minister was present at the Bamako Summit for Partnership, Peace and Emergence in mid-January 2017.

Eswatini is represented in France by its Embassy in Brussels.

Economic relations

The agrifood (sugar cane in particular), renewable energy and mining (oil, gold and diamonds) sectors are of interest to our companies.

Cultural, scientific and technical cooperation

Although limited, France’s bilateral action is appreciated. It is overseen by the country’s Embassy in Maputo and implemented on the ground by the Alliance Française branch in Mbabane. The Alliance Française is active in the linguistic and cultural fields, and is a key cultural venue in southern Africa. It initiated the MTN Bushfire festival, which is one of the largest worldwide.

Multilaterally, France contributes significantly through the European Development Fund (EDF), and it is financing 17.8% of the 11ᵗʰ EDF, as well as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, to which France is the second-largest contributor behind the United States. Furthermore, with proceeds from its air-ticket levy, France provides annual funding of €190 million to UNITAID.

^{Updated: November 2019}