Political unrest in Mozambique has caused severe disruptions to Eswatini’s sugar export operations, with the landlocked country now being forced to explore costly alternative shipping routes. The turmoil, sparked by widespread protests and violent clashes, has left its mark on regional trade, straining logistics and supply chains.
Eswatini’s sugar industry has long depended on the Maputo port terminal in Mozambique for the shipment of raw sugar to key international markets, including the European Union and the United States. Jointly owned by Eswatini, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, the terminal has been vital to the industry since the mid-1990s. However, ongoing instability in Mozambique has compromised access to the port, threatening Eswatini’s lucrative export markets.
Nontobeko Mabuza, a representative from the Eswatini Sugar Association (ESA), warned that the unrest poses significant challenges for the industry, particularly for exports bound for Europe and neighboring countries. While rerouting shipments through South Africa’s Durban port is an option, Mabuza cautioned that this alternative would incur additional costs and strain the region’s transport infrastructure. Furthermore, the longer transit times could lead to delays in delivery, complicating supply chains for Eswatini’s international clients.
In 2023, the ESA earned $305 million from exporting over 26,000 tons of sugar under the U.S. African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The disruption in Mozambique’s transportation network has added significant pressure to the industry, with heavy traffic congestion and delays at border crossings, especially the Lebombo border post between South Africa and Mozambique. This has forced goods to be rerouted through Eswatini, creating logistical bottlenecks and prolonging delivery times for both imports and exports.
The unrest, which stems from opposition leader Venancio Mondlane’s claims of election victory, has escalated into widespread road blockages and violent confrontations with security forces, resulting in more than 100 fatalities. The political turmoil has effectively shut down key transport routes in Mozambique, further disrupting the movement of goods across the region.
Solomon Mondlane, a political activist in Mozambique, warned that the instability could have severe consequences for southern Africa’s economies, particularly for landlocked nations like Eswatini. He urged neighboring countries to reassess their trade dependence on Mozambique and to identify alternative routes to safeguard against further disruptions.
As the situation continues to evolve, political analysts such as Sibusiso Nhlabatsi argue that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) must strengthen its conflict management mechanisms. Nhlabatsi emphasized the need for a regional framework that holds member states accountable for internal conflicts and their broader impact on regional stability. Such measures are seen as essential to ensuring the continued flow of trade across southern Africa despite the ongoing political volatility in Mozambique.