PM tours new Eswatini Embassy in Ethiopia, reinforces diplomatic ties
By Siphesihle Dlamini
Prime Minister Russell Dlamini has on Wednesday toured the new Eswatini Embassy premises in Ethiopia, marking a significant milestone in the Kingdom’s diplomatic engagement and regional presence.
This visit not only symbolises Eswatini’s commitment to strengthening bilateral and multilateral relations but also sets the stage for the Prime Minister’s influential participation in Africa Climate Week, held in Addis Ababa just a day earlier.
The dual focus on diplomatic expansion and climate leadership highlights Eswatini’s proactive role in addressing continental challenges through cooperation and innovation.
The newly inaugurated embassy in Ethiopia serves as a strategic hub for Eswatini’s diplomatic activities, enhancing its ability to engage with the African Union and other key international partners headquartered in Addis Ababa.
Prime Minister Dlamini’s tour of the facility underscored the government’s dedication to fostering closer ties with African nations and reinforcing Eswatini’s voice on the global stage.
At Africa Climate Week, Prime Minister Dlamini delivered a compelling call for urgent international support to accelerate Africa’s transition to renewable energy and secure equitable climate financing.
The event, themed “Accelerating Global Climate Solutions – Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development,” convened leaders across governments, civil society, and the private sector to unite around climate action tailored to Africa’s unique needs.
Central to the Prime Minister’s address was the pressing need for transformative investments to increase Africa’s share of renewable energy financing to at least 20 per cent by 2030.
He highlighted the continent’s significant financing gap, referencing the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), which estimates that Africa requires nearly US$3 trillion to meet its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by 2030.
Despite this vast requirement, climate finance flows to Africa have been grossly inadequate, totalling only US$30 billion between 2021 and 2022 — a shortfall that threatens the continent’s ability to effectively combat climate change and transition to clean energy sources.
“The Kingdom of Eswatini joins the call in the Draft Declaration for transformative climate financing, moving from aid to strategic investments in local innovation,” Prime Minister Dlamini asserted.
He emphasised the critical importance of equitable access to finance and urged reforms in global funding mechanisms, including Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), to increase concessional finance and enhance African representation.
Furthermore, he advocated for innovative debt instruments that enable climate action without imposing unsustainable burdens on African economies.
A key highlight of the Prime Minister’s speech was the emphasis on operationalising critical climate finance instruments. He underscored the necessity of activating the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage and advancing the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance.
Additionally, he voiced support for establishing high-integrity carbon markets through initiatives such as the Africa Action Plan on Carbon Markets (AAPCM), which aim to harness market mechanisms for sustainable development.
However, Dlamini also issued a cautionary note against unilateral measures like the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. He warned that such policies risk penalising developing countries and could cost Africa up to US$25 billion annually by 2030, thereby jeopardising the continent’s development trajectory and undermining global climate justice efforts.
Reaffirming Eswatini’s commitment to climate action rooted in African values, the Prime Minister invoked the Tinkhundla system of governance, a decentralised model that places decision-making power in the hands of communities.
This approach, he explained, ensures that climate policies are inclusive, equitable, and responsive to the needs of citizens. Dlamini pledged to collaborate with all African Member States to uphold these principles and promote climate action that truly benefits the people.
The Prime Minister also expressed strong support for the Africa Climate Innovation Challenge (ACIC) and other mechanisms designed to channel catalytic finance toward youth-led enterprises and nature-based solutions.
Recognising the pivotal role of grassroots innovation, he highlighted these initiatives as essential to building climate resilience from the ground up.
In his closing remarks, Dlamini framed Africa’s climate resilience as indispensable not only for the continent’s survival but also for global stability and prosperity.
He urged global partners to view Africa’s climate challenges as opportunities for green growth, shared prosperity, and climate justice that will benefit generations to come.
