Taiwan’s President to Visit Eswatini as Diplomatic Allies Narrow to 12 Nations

Mintesinot Nigussie

Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te will travel to Eswatini next week, a rare overseas visit that comes as the island’s formal diplomatic network has narrowed to 12 countries, most of them small states in Latin America, the Caribbean and the Pacific.

Lai is scheduled to be in Eswatini from April 22 to 26 to attend events marking the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s accession and the monarch’s 58th birthday. The southern African kingdom remains Taiwan’s only diplomatic partner on the continent.

The visit is Lai’s first abroad since November 2024, when he visited the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau, with transit stops in Hawaii and Guam. It reflects Taiwan’s continued efforts to maintain ties with its remaining diplomatic allies amid pressure from China.

Eswatini, an absolute monarchy with a population of about 1.3 million, sits almost entirely surrounded by South Africa. Taiwan has maintained long-standing development and health cooperation with the country, including the delivery of antiviral medication in 2021 to support King Mswati III during his recovery from COVID-19.

Lai’s trip underscores Taiwan’s strategy to strengthen relations with its few remaining diplomatic partners through high-level visits and development assistance. Businesses in trade, investment and development sectors are expected to monitor the outcomes of the visit.

Overall, President Lai’s visit to Eswatini highlights Taiwan’s determination to preserve its limited diplomatic footprint in Africa while deepening cooperation with one of its longest-standing allies on the continent.