Malabo – His Majesty King Mswati III has called on the 79 member states of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States to raise about €10 million, roughly E198 million, to strengthen the bloc’s financial position.
The appeal was made during the 11th OACPS Summit held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, where the King attended in his role as Champion of the Resource Mobilisation Exercise. Acting on behalf of the Kingdom of Eswatini, His Majesty pledged €1.5 million, approximately E30 million, towards the collective target.
Addressing fellow Heads of State and Government, the King said the fundraising effort should mark a decisive shift for the organisation. 
“Let us transform this moment into a turning point, where commitments are translated into resources, and resources into results. Together, we can build a stronger, more resilient, and more self-reliant OACPS.”
The OACPS brings together countries from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific and works to advance sustainable development, economic cooperation and collective bargaining power on global platforms. The resource mobilisation drive is aimed at securing predictable internal financing to reduce reliance on external partners.
His Majesty said reforms within the organisation were also necessary to ensure it remains responsive to the needs of its diverse membership.
“We must invest in meaningful reforms, including the modernisation of our organisation, to ensure that it is efficient, fit for purpose, and capable of delivering results for all member states.”
He described resource mobilisation as a matter that goes beyond administrative processes.
“The question of resource mobilisation is not merely technical; it is profoundly political. It goes to the heart of our collective aspiration for economic sovereignty.”
The King warned that without reliable and self directed funding, member states would remain exposed to shifting global dynamics.
“Without sustainable, predictable, and self-directed financing, our development priorities remain vulnerable to external pressures and global uncertainties.”
He urged the organisation to ensure that every contribution delivers visible change across member states.
“Above all, we must focus on measurable impact, ensuring that every contribution translates into tangible progress in the lives of our citizens and the resilience of our economies.”
On governance, His Majesty called for strict oversight of both member contributions and partnerships.
“Accountability must be central to our efforts, ensuring that both member states and partners deliver on their commitments. Transparency must underpin all financial flows and institutional processes.”
