Eswatini pushes for a fairer global finance system
By Delisa Magagula
Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg is spearheading Eswatini’s push for a fairer Global Finance system.
Joining world leaders last week in Washington D.C. for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Annual Meetings.
He also represented the African Union (AU) at the upcoming G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors gathering under South Africa’s presidency.
In his address, Rijkenberg emphasised Africa’s demand for fairness in the global financial architecture.
“Our message to the G20, IMF and World Bank is to fix the Common Framework, embrace innovative tools and amplify Africa’s voice and representation.
We must strengthen Africa’s economic sovereignty and ensure that the international financial architecture is responsive to our needs,” said Rijkenberg.
Meanwhile, Eswatini’s delegation underscored that the Kingdom has fully repaid its IMF obligations, aiming to position itself as a credible partner in the global financial system.
The country’s improving Article IV assessments by the IMF have also been cited as evidence of stronger macro-fiscal standing.
The discussions covered key economic and financial reforms. For Africa, priorities include enhanced representation in multilateral institutions, reform of sovereign debt treatment mechanisms, and improved cost and accessibility of capital for emerging economies.
“From sovereign credit rating to domestic resource mobilisation and curbing illicit financial flows our call is that Africa is taking decisive continental action,” said the Minister.
Worth noting is that the IMF–World Bank stages served as both a platform for Eswatini to engage with bilateral and multilateral partners and a strategic opportunity for the Kingdom to showcase its reform credentials.
Rijkenberg framed the engagement as part of a busy Washington schedule of meetings.
We spent a lot of time just meeting with these different entities, we also as Eswatini have our voice there making sure we also can lobby for certain things and push for certain things,” said the Minister.
In the wake of these forums, Eswatini is seeking to deepen its ties with development partners and investors by leveraging its role as both an AU voice and a national reformer.