King saves the OACPS

As a journalist who has covered international summits for many years, I have seen my share of tense diplomatic moments, but few have moved me quite like the 11^th Summit of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

There, I watched with pride as His Majesty King Mswati III turned what could have been a moment of collapse into one of renewal and hope.

The future of this vital body, representing 79 member States and over 1.1 billion people, hung in the balance. Thanks to the King’s personal charm and leading from the front with a 1.5 million euros pledge, member countries pledged more than 14 million Euros, which was well above the 10 million Euros target needed to rescue the organisation from financial ruin.

The OACPS Secretary General, Moussa Saleh Batraki, had warned before the summit that this was a turning point in the organisation’s 50-year history. Founded in 1975 as the ACP Group and renamed in 2020, the OACPS had long relied on partnerships, particularly with the European Union.By early 2026, it faced a crippling 12 million Euro debt. Staff salaries went unpaid, in-person meetings became difficult and the EU had suspended funding until OACPS members stepped up. The lights in the Brussels offices were at risk of going out. Batraki stressed that without fresh, substantial financing and real reform, all the ambitious talk of a ‘transformed and renewed OACPS in a changing world’ would remain an empty theme. He said the organisation needed to move away from old post-colonial frameworks towards self-reliance, stronger global advocacy and diversified funding.

It was into this crisis that King Mswati III was asked to step forward as a Resource Mobilisation Champion. I sat in the roundtable session he facilitated and saw how he led from the front. His Majesty pledged 1.5 million Euros (about E30 million) from Eswatini, which is  a powerful example that set the tone.

Equatorial Guinea followed with five million Euros, Angola with three million, Mozambique with one million and Tanzania with one million. Many other nations from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific joined in, pushing the total beyond 12.8 million Euros (roughly E255 million). What began as an urgent call for 10 million Euros ended with contributions that exceeded expectations and restored confidence.

During the roundtable session dedicated to fundraising, Tanzania’s Vice President, Dr Emmanuel John Nchimbi, captured the mood perfectly. “No one was better suited to lead this resource mobilisation effort than His Majesty King Mswati III,” he told the leaders, adding: “His role was endorsed by the entire membership and has earned great respect on the world stage.” Dr Nchimbi, whose country contributed one million Euros, conveyed President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s gratitude and reaffirmed Tanzania’s continued commitment to the OACPS’s objectives.

Eswatini’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Senator Pholile Shakantu, who played a key role in executing the King’s mandate and served as President of the OACPS Council of Ministers, explained how the crisis came about and how the King’s deep concern led him to accept the request to champion the drive to save the organisation. “His Majesty firmly believes in multilateralism and wants the OACPS to become stronger, more self-reliant and able to speak with a unified voice globally,” Minister Shakantu said. She noted how the King’s leadership had restored stability and fostered fresh cooperation.

OACPS Secretary General Batraki thanked the King during the session, saying that without his timely intervention, the organisation would have struggled to survive.The National Assembly President of the Ivory Coast, Patrick Achi, and other leaders echoed this, praising the King’s dedication and vision for institutional sustainability. Several speakers noted that by leading by example, His Majesty had encouraged consistent contribution going forward.

As I observed these events unfold, I reflected on how this success has elevated Eswatini’s profile and the King’s stature. The confidence shown in His Majesty’s leadership was  made evident at the event, as it earned the country hosting of two important international conferences at the newly-built International Convention Centre, at the request of some member countries.The first will take place in May this year, with the second scheduled for 2029. These gatherings at the ICC will follow the national celebrations, marking the King’s 40 years on the Throne and his 58^th birthday. With delegates from the OACPS’s 79 member States, 48 from Africa, 16 from the Caribbean and 15 from the Pacific, plus representatives from the European Union(EU), these events will showcase the state-of-the-art facility to a global audience.

At the end of the fundraising session, I felt a sense of optimism. For Eswatini, this success brings pride and practical opportunities. For the OACPS, it marks an important step towards self-reliance and relevance in a changing world.