… Chad pledges E16.5 million to OACPS
The Kingdom of Eswatini and Chad have agreed to strengthen bilateral relations and establish a concrete framework for cooperation in several sectors.
The commitment was made on Thursday, July 16, in Brussels, on the sidelines of the 121st session of the Council of Ministers of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, OACPS. 
A Chadian delegation met with officials from Eswatini to explore new areas of collaboration.
For N’Djamena, the meeting was part of efforts to diversify partnerships in Southern Africa.
And for Eswatini, it was an opportunity to deepen ties with Central Africa.
The Chadian delegation was led by the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Djangbeye Guelngar Evariste, representing the Minister of State.
He was accompanied by Chad’s Ambassador to Belgium, Her Excellency Mariam Ali Moussa.
From Eswatini, the discussions were held with the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Manqoba Khumalo and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Eswatini to Belgium, His Excellency Sibusisiwe Mngomezulu.
During the meeting, both sides expressed a shared willingness to move beyond diplomatic courtesies and build practical cooperation.
The goal, they said, is to put in place a framework that delivers real benefits to the people of both countries.
Although separated by thousands of kilometres, Chad and Eswatini face similar challenges.
Both are working to diversify their economies, attract investment and create jobs for young people.
They are also members of the OACPS, a bloc of 79 countries from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific that promotes fair trade and stronger South-South cooperation.
Trade and industry were identified as immediate priorities.
Minister Khumalo emphasised the need to make it easier for businesses from both countries to connect and trade.
Agriculture, livestock, agro-processing, tourism and vocational training were also discussed as areas with potential.
Ambassador Mariam Ali Moussa noted that Chad is currently undertaking reforms to improve the business environment and attract foreign investors.
She said N’Djamena is open to learning from Eswatini’s experience, particularly in agro-industry and textiles, where the kingdom has developed notable expertise.
Dr Guelngar added that Chad is keen to expand economic diplomacy beyond its immediate neighbours.
“We believe there is room to do more with countries like Eswatini. Our economies are not competitors. They are complementary,” he said.
The discussions also focused on how to formalise cooperation so that it does not remain at the level of statements.
Both delegations agreed on the need for regular consultation mechanisms.
The possibility of signing a framework agreement or memorandum of understanding was raised.
Such an instrument would set out priority areas, define follow-up mechanisms and provide structure for future projects.
Ambassador Mngomezulu stressed the role of diplomatic missions in making this happen.
He said embassies in Brussels and elsewhere should act as bridges between the public and private sectors of the two countries.
Dr Guelngar said the Brussels meeting should be the start of a process, not a one-off event.
“We want this engagement to be followed by business missions, technical exchanges and visits in the coming months,” he said.
The Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Senator Manqoba Khumalo, has successfully led the Kingdom of Eswatini’s delegation to the 121st Session of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) Council of Ministers, held in Brussels, Belgium.
During the high-level engagements, the Minister advanced the resource mobilisation mandate entrusted to His Majesty King Mswati III,
the OACPS Champion for Resource Mobilisation, encouraging Member States to make voluntary financial contributions towards the long-term sustainability of the Organisation.
On the sidelines of the Council, the minister held productive bilateral meetings with counterparts from Chad, Uganda and Ethiopia, aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic cooperation, expanding trade opportunities, promoting agricultural collaboration, and mobilising support for the OACPS.
Among the key outcomes was Chad’s voluntary commitment of approximately E16 477 180 million towards the OACPS, as well as plans for Eswatini and Chad to formally establish diplomatic relations during the United Nations General Assembly in September 2026.
The bilateral talks took place as ministers from 79 OACPS member states gathered in Brussels for the 121st Council session.
The agenda covers development, trade, climate change and the implementation of the Samoa Agreement between the OACPS and the European Union.
OACPS Secretariat revealed that the Chad-Eswatini meeting signals a desire by smaller and medium-sized economies to advance bilateral ties even while participating in broader multilateral discussions.
