Ezulwini – Senators examined 23 international instruments that the Kingdom of Eswatini needed to approve during an intensive two-day workshop.
The workshop was convened by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation from 9-10 July 2026 with the support of UNFPA Eswatini at the Royal Villas in Ezulwini, following a similar process for members of the House of Assembly.
The instruments impacted eight ministries: foreign affairs and international cooperation; the deputy prime minister’s office; commerce, industry, and trade; public works and transportation; ICT, natural resources, and energy; finance; and justice and constitutional affairs, with each minister and/or their legal officers arguing for or against the protocols in order to gain support. 
Among the protocols were the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Older Persons in Africa and the Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Organisation of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (SAMOA Agreement), which member states resolved to fulfil in the Ezulwini Palace ICC meeting of the EU-OACPS in May. https://swazi24.com/45414/news/diplomacy/southern-african-mps-debate-oacps-funding-priorities/
The senators went through each of the proposed agreements where they were told the benefits for Eswatini should they be ratified. They were able to pose questions and make recommendations. The Senate has 30 senators, including His Majesty King Mswati III’s appointees and electees, who will serve in substantive office from 2023 to 2028.
The deputy prime minister Thulisisle Dladla opened the meeting together with the minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation Pholile Shakantu as well as the resident representative of the UNDP. The acting principal secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lomakhosi Dlamini, moderated the programme while the Senate president, Lindiwe Dlamini, and her deputy, Ndumiso Mdluli, interchanged chairing.
The list of international legal instruments for ratification:
- Deputy Prime Minister’s Office
- Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Older Persons in Africa
- Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa
- Agreement for the Establishment of the African Risk Capacity (ARC) Agency
- Ministry of Public Works and Transport
- International Air Services Transit Agreement, signed in Chicago 7 December 1944.
- Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts of Violence at Airports serving International Civil Aviation.
- Convention on the International Maritime Organization (IMO)
- Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade
- The Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled.
- The Beijing Treaty on Audio-Visual Performance
- The WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT)
- The WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT).
- SADC Protocol on Industry.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation
- UN Convention on the Privileges and Immunities Agencies of the Specialized
- Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Organization of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (SAMOA Agreement)
- Ministry of Information, Communication & Technology
- The African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection (Malabo Convention)
- Convention on Cybercrime (The Budapest Convention)
- The Tampere Convention on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations.
- The Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy
- The Framework Agreement Establishment of the International Solar Alliance (ISA)
- Memorandum of Agreement between SADC Member States Regarding Establishment of SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SACREEE)
- Ministry of Finance
- Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting.
- Agreement for the Establishment of the Africa Finance Corporation
- Agreement for the Establishment of the African Legal Support Facility
- Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs
- The African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption
- SADC Protocol on The Inter-State Transfer of Sentenced Offenders
