17/07/2026
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – The Kingdom of Eswatini has reinforced its leadership within the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) following the successful participation of the Honourable Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Senator Manqoba Khumalo, at the 121st Session of the OACPS Council of Ministers in Brussels.
Leading Eswatini’s delegation, Senator Khumalo championed the resource mobilisation agenda entrusted to His Majesty King Mswati III, the OACPS Champion for Resource Mobilisation. He called on Member States to make voluntary financial contributions to strengthen the Organisation’s long-term sustainability and enhance its capacity to deliver on its mandate.
On the margins of the Council, the Minister held strategic bilateral meetings with counterparts from Chad, Uganda, and Ethiopia to deepen diplomatic and economic relations. The discussions focused on expanding trade and investment opportunities, strengthening agricultural cooperation, and rallying greater support for the OACPS.
One of the most significant achievements of the engagements was Chad’s voluntary pledge of approximately US$1 million in support of the OACPS Secretariat – Secrétariat OEACP Eswatini and Chad also agreed to formalise diplomatic relations during the United Nations General Assembly scheduled for September 2026, marking a new chapter in cooperation between the two countries.
The outcomes of the Council underscore Eswatini’s growing influence on the international stage and its unwavering commitment to promoting regional integration, strengthening global partnerships, and driving sustainable economic development across Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.
