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Royalists Make Strong Showing in Eswatini Parliamentary Elections


FILE - A voter fills out a ballot at a polling station during Eswatini's parliamentary elections in Mbabane, Eswatini, September 29, 2023.
FILE - A voter fills out a ballot at a polling station during Eswatini's parliamentary elections in Mbabane, Eswatini, September 29, 2023.

MBABANE - Fifty-one men and eight women were elected to Eswatini's parliament in last week's election, with a strong showing for pro-royalist candidates in results expected to make little difference to the politics of Africa's last absolute monarchy.

The southern Africa nation has been ruled by 55-year-old King Mswati III, since 1986, when he inherited the crown from his father, Sobhuza II. The country formerly known as Swaziland held elections Friday for citizens to elect politicians who effectively function as the king's advisers with no executive power. The electoral commission published the results on Monday.

FILE - FILE - King Mswati III of Eswatini arrives for the swearing-in ceremony of Cyril Ramaphosa at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, on May 25, 2019.
FILE - FILE - King Mswati III of Eswatini arrives for the swearing-in ceremony of Cyril Ramaphosa at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, on May 25, 2019.

Political parties are banned in the country of about 1.2 million people, but individual candidates are allowed to run for seats in the House of Assembly every five years.

Of the parliamentarians elected in Eswatini, most were seen as being loyal to the king and also included former journalists and teachers.

In addition to the 59 elected members of parliament, the king will appoint 10 more to the House of Assembly at his discretion, which will include five women.

FILE - Voters queue to cast their votes in Manzini, Eswatini, Sept. 29, 2023.
FILE - Voters queue to cast their votes in Manzini, Eswatini, Sept. 29, 2023.

An African Union-led election observation mission said women continued to be underrepresented in parliament.

Pro-democracy campaigners have accused King Mswati of consistently evading calls for meaningful reforms that would push the country towards democracy.

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