Swaziland

Swaziland, which is often referred to as the Kingdom of Eswatini is a south African landlocked nation. Present boundaries of the country came to be in 1881, under the  Scramble for Africa. After the Second Boer War, the country was a  British protectorate, until it obtained independence on 6 September 1968. On April 19, 2018 Swaziland officially changed its name to Kingdom of Eswatini. The government is headed by a absolute diarchy, with the King and Queen Mother maintaining rule. The King is the head of state, in charge of appointing cabinet members and the prime minister. Elections take place every five years to determine the senate and house of assembly members.

Swaziland is a small, developing African country. Estwani is a member of the Southern African Customs Union and COMESA ( Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa). The US and European Union are main trading partners with the country overseas, and it’s main local trading partner is South Africa. Agriculture and manufacturing sectors are the two leading areas of employment in the country. The country’s also a member of the United Nations,  Commonwealth of Nations, SADC, and African Union.

The Swazi bicameral Parliament has 30 seats and the House of Assembly has 65. Elections are held every five years, on a non-party basis. The country adopted the  Westminster-style constitution.

The judiciary system in Swaziland is based on a dual-system. The 2006 Constitution established a court system which follows a western model. The country has four regional magistrate courts, a high court, and Supreme Court (Court of appeals). Traditional Swazi Courts or National Courts hear cases dealing with minor offenses. Judges are typically expatriates from South Africa, who are appointed by the king.

Visitors to the National Law Review can find the latest coverage related to Swaziland, and its relations with South Africa. International news and immigration, international arbitration enforcement, and international relations news are covered.