The landlocked southern African monarch of Swaziland has had its name changed to Kingdom of eSwatini.
King Mswati III made the announcement on Thursday during celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Swazi independence.
The celebrations also marked the king’s 50th birthday.
The Swazi king is more known for his many wives and for his adherence to traditional dress codes.
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.
