Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is one of the last remaining absolute monarchies in the world. In this small southern African nation, political power is largely centralized in the monarchy. The King of Eswatini serves as the head of state and maintains the ability to dissolve the parliament, veto legislation, and issue decrees.

The nation’s political structure includes elements of a parliamentary system. The bicameral Parliament or Libandla consists of the Senate (the upper house) and the House of Assembly (the lower house). The Senate is composed of 30 members, with 10 members appointed by the House of Assembly and 20 appointed by the King. The House of Assembly consists of 65 members, with 10 members appointed by the King and the remaining 55 elected by popular vote. However, the parliament’s power is limited, as the King has the final say on most matters of state.

The Judiciary of Eswatini is a separate branch, with a judicial system that incorporates elements of traditional Swazi law, Roman-Dutch law, and modern common law. The highest judicial authority is the Court of Appeal, followed by the High Court and the Industrial Court. Additionally, there are also traditional courts, known as Swazi Courts or National Courts, which operate at the chiefdom level and handle minor offenses and disputes under the purview of traditional law.