Swaziland with the capital city Mbabane is located in Africa (Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa). It covers some 17,363 square kilometres (slightly smaller than New Jersey) with 1,128,000 citizens.

About the flag and history of Swaziland

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; blue stands for peace and stability, red represents past struggles, and yellow the mineral resources of the country; the shield, spears, and staff symbolize protection from the country's enemies, while the black and white of the shield are meant to portray black and white people living in peaceful coexistence.

Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted in 1968. Student and labor unrest during the 1990s pressured King MSWATI III, Africa's last absolute monarch, to grudgingly allow political reform and greater democracy, although he has backslid on these promises in recent years. A constitution came into effect in 2006, but the legal status of political parties remains unclear. The African United Democratic Party tried unsuccessfully to register as an official political party in mid 2006. Talks over the constitution broke down between the government and progressive groups in 2007. Swaziland recently surpassed Botswana as the country with the world''s highest known HIV/AIDS prevalence rate.

National administrative regions of Swaziland

• Hhohho
• Lubombo
• Manzini
• Shiselweni
• Swaziland (general)

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