All posts tagged: Eswatini

Taiwan’s Lai lands in Eswatini in a trip delayed by lack of overflight clearance : NPR

Taiwan’s Lai lands in Eswatini in a trip delayed by lack of overflight clearance : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

FILE – Taiwan President Lai Ching-te delivers a speech as he inspects Taiwanese reservists participating in reserve military training in Ilan County, Eastern Taiwan, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. ChiangYing-ying/AP hide caption toggle caption ChiangYing-ying/AP TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te said he arrived in the African nation of Eswatini on Saturday, days after his government was forced to push back the trip when several countries withdrew permission for him to fly over their territories reportedly over Chinese pressure. In a post on X, Lai said he arrived in Eswatini — Taiwan’s only diplomatic ally in Africa — to “affirm our longstanding friendship.” He said that Taiwan, a self-ruled democracy that China considers part of its territory, “will never be deterred by external pressures.” Lai was originally scheduled to visit the southern African country from April 22, but Taiwanese officials said that flight permits were revoked by Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar over “strong pressure from the Chinese authorities, including economic coercion.” In a separate Facebook post on Saturday, Lai wrote that the visit was made …

Taiwan leader makes delayed visit to Eswatini after China objections

Taiwan leader makes delayed visit to Eswatini after China objections

Published by Sam Flores

“And no country has the right and no country should ever block Taiwan from contributing more to the world,” he added. Earlier Saturday, China’s foreign ministry accused Lai of making a “stowaway-style escape farce” that made him “an international laughing stock”. “No matter how the DPP authorities collude with external forces … it is all in vain and cannot change the fact that Taiwan is part of China,” an unnamed spokesperson said in a statement on the ministry’s website, referring to Lai’s party. “We urge Eswatini and other individual countries to see clearly the general trend of history … and not pull chestnuts out of the fire for a handful of ‘Taiwan independence’ separatists,” the statement said.  Eswatini, a small enclave kingdom formerly known as Swaziland, is one of 12 countries that still recognise Taiwan. China has persuaded other nations to break diplomatic ties with the self-ruled island, which it claims as part of its territory. Lai was due in Eswatini in April for the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s accession to the throne, …

Eritrea to end 18-year AFCON isolation by playing Eswatini in qualifier | Football News

Eritrea to end 18-year AFCON isolation by playing Eswatini in qualifier | Football News

Published by Sam Flores

Eritrea vs Eswatini on Wednesday will serve as the first AFCON qualifier for the east African nation since 2008. Published On 24 Mar 202624 Mar 2026 Eritrea will end 18 years of isolation from the Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday when they host Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, in the Moroccan city of Meknes in the first qualifier for the 2027 tournament. The preliminary round first leg at the 20,000-seat Stade d’Honneur has been moved from East to North Africa because Eritrea lacks an international-standard venue. Recommended Stories list of 2 itemsend of list Eswatini will stage the return match on March 31, and the aggregate winners will advance to the group stage, which will consist of 12 four-nation mini-leagues from September. Popularly known as the Red Sea Camels, the East African country have not played in the premier African national team competition since drawing a 2008 qualifier in Swaziland. Eritrean football officials have never explained their absence from nine subsequent Cups of Nations, but it is widely believed to be due to players …

Eswatini Court Throws Out Challenge to Deal on US Deportees

Eswatini Court Throws Out Challenge to Deal on US Deportees

Published by Sam Flores

MBABANE, Feb 4 (Reuters) – Eswatini’s high court ‌has ​thrown out a case ‌filed by human rights lawyers and activists that challenged the government’s ​deal with the United States to accept third-country deportees. U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has sent ‍at least 15 third-country deportees ​to Eswatini since last July, as part of its crackdown on illegal immigration. ​The small ⁠southern African country received $5.1 million as part of the deal. The applicants in the case, led by the Eswatini Litigation Centre, had claimed that the agreement was unconstitutional because it was not submitted to parliament for approval and the terms were not ‌disclosed. Three judges dismissed the case on the primary grounds that the applicants did ​not have ‌a direct interest in ‍the matter ⁠and therefore did not have the right to bring it to court, according to a copy of the judgment delivered on Tuesday. They also raised other issues, such as the fact that the applicants could not produce a copy of the agreement they were challenging. “We are told to respect …