The Southern African kingdom of Eswatini, which has maintained diplomatic ties with Israel for over 50 years, is reportedly considering hosting an Israeli diplomatic mission once again. The Israeli Embassy in Eswatini’s capital, Mbabane, was closed in 1994, with relations managed from Pretoria, South Africa. Local media reports suggest ongoing high-level consultations could lead to the embassy’s return.
This move comes as Israel faces global isolation due to its military actions in Gaza and Lebanon. While Eswatini officials, including Foreign Ministry Secretary Newman Ntshangase, view the potential embassy reopening as positive, critics, such as Thokozane Kunene of the Communist Party of Swaziland, argue that the relationship strengthens Eswatini’s authoritarian regime.
The Eswatini government denies allegations of undue Israeli influence, while concerns have been raised that reopening the embassy could signal Eswatini’s support for Israeli actions in Gaza and strain ties with Arab nations that have supported the kingdom. However, the government insists its foreign policy decisions are independent and should be respected by all parties.
