Capital: Mbabane (administrative); Lobamba (legislative)
Administrative divisions: 4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni

Independence: 6 September 1968 (from UK)
National holiday: Somhlolo (Independence) Day, 6 September (1968)

Constitution: none; constitution of 6 September 1968 was suspended on 12 April 1973; a new constitution was promulgated 13 October 1978, but has not been formally presented to the people

Legal system: based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts, Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: none

Executive branch:
chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)
head of government: Prime Minister Prince Jameson Mbilini DLAMINI (since 12 November 1993)
cabinet: Cabinet; designated by the monarch

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament is advisory and consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Assembly; the 30 members of the Senate are appointed - 10 by the House of Assembly and 20 by the king; the members of the House are elected by popular vote; last election held in October 1993

Judicial branch: High Court, Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders: none; banned by the Constitution promulgated on 13 October 1978
Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Absalom Vusani MAMBA
chancery: 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 362-6683 or 6685
FAX: (202) 244-8059
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador John SPROTT
embassy: Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane
mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane
telephone: [268] 46441 through 46445
FAX: [268] 45959

Flag: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a large black and white shield covering two spears and a staff decorated with feather tassels, all placed horizontally

NOTE: The information regarding Swaziland on this page is re-published from the 1995 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Swaziland Government 1995 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Swaziland Government 1995 should be addressed to the CIA.