NEW YORK, Sept 25 (The African Portal) – His Majesty King Mswati III of Ewatini has called for resolute rejection of coups and non-recognition of any governments installed through unconstitutional means.
Delivering his address at a special meeting of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) here yesterday, the King emphasised Africa’s firm stance against such power grabs, stressing that no matter how popular a coup might seem, it must face consequences rather than acceptance.
“We must reject any attempt to overthrow a legitimate government,” His Majesty declared. “Those who ascend to power through coups must face consequences not acceptance. The African Union and the United Nations have a responsibility to act decisively, ensuring that no coup is legitimised or recognised. This is not merely a policy – it is a moral imperative.”
The King’s speech came during the AU Observer Mission’s gathering on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, where leaders discussed pressing security challenges across the continent, including resurgent violent conflicts, unconstitutional changes of government and emerging threats from climate-induced instability to transnational crime.
AU commitment
His Majesty highlighted the AU’s long-standing commitment to not tolerating coups or recognising regimes established by force, drawing on the principles enshrined in the AU’s 50th Anniversary Solemn Declaration and Agenda 2063, which pledge to silence the guns by 2030.
As Eswatini assumes its role on the AU Peace and Security Council for the 2025-2028 term, the King called for a reassessment of the body’s conflict resolution efforts, urging the codification of best practices from successful interventions and the establishment of a General Assembly-led compliance unit with clear timelines to transform resolutions into unbreakable commitments.
“We must safeguard the efficiency and legitimacy of African solutions to African problems the very essence of our union,” he said, advocating for the full operationalisation of the African Standby Force and bolstered financing through the AU Peace Fund and innovative partnerships.
His Majesty also stressed the need to review the PSC’s relations with partners, including Regional Economic Communities, the UN Security Council, the European Union Peace and Security Committee and the League of Arab States Peace and Security Council, proposing harmonised protocols for joint early warning shared intelligence and coordinated actions under African leadership.
Credit: Times of Eswatini
