An activist in eSwatini has moved to court to challenge the country’s name change, which was formerly known as Swaziland.
The activist, Thulani Maseko, argued in papers submitted to the High Court that the decision was invalid because there had been no prior public consultation.
King Mswati III made the change in April, during celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Swazi independence. The celebrations also marked the king’s 50th birthday.
The new name, eSwatini, means “land of the Swazis”.
The kingdom is Africa’s last absolute monarchy, a fact that has in the past been a point of focus for critics who want a change in the system of governance.
While the official name change was unexpected, King Mswati III has been referring for years to Swaziland as the Kingdom of eSwatini.
This was the name the king used when he addressed the UN general assembly in 2017 and at the state opening of the country’s parliament in 2014.
