Saudi Arabia to open embassy in Eswatini

By Phathizwe Zulu

MBABANE, Eswatini (AA) – Saudi Arabia has announced the establishment of a full-fledged embassy in the Kingdom of Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, a tiny Southern African landlocked country with a population of slightly more than a million people.

The announcement was made by Saudi Arabia's Royal Court Advisor Ahmed Qattan during his meeting with King Mswati III on Tuesday evening, in which strengthening bilateral relations was also discussed, Eswatini's Foreign Affairs Minister Thuli Dladla told reporters in the capital Mbabane on Wednesday.

"We have received His Majesty and the important issues were discussed with the king concerning improvement in the relationship in all aspects. He informed the king that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has approved the construction of an embassy building in the Kingdom of Eswatini," Qattan was quoted by the minister as saying.

Eswatini has strong bilateral relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dladla said, adding that "we would like to reaffirm the bonds that exist between us as kingdoms."

Quttan's role in the country is not new, as he has always played an important role in improving relations, Communications Manager in the King's Office Percy Simelane told Anadolu over the phone.

When Eswatini was in political turmoil in March last year, Quttan arrived and delivered what the government claimed was a special message from the Saudi king, which played a role in the country's political settlement.

“We view the latest move by the sister kingdom as a bid to upgrade and further strengthen ties and open other trade corridors for Eswatini,” Simelane said.