Swaziland

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, the world'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 political parties remain banned. 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.

Economical characteristics

 * Currency: Lilangeni (ISO code: SZL)
 * Central bank discount rate: 6.5% (31 December 2009)
 * Commercial banks lending rate: 11.38% (31 December 2009 )
 * Stock of money (M1): $211.8 million (31 December 2008)
 * Quasi money (with M1 makes M2): $441.5 million (31 December 2008)

Notable events:

 * Banking crisis: 1995

Links

 * Swaziland on Wikipedia
 * Central bank of Swaziland
 * Country profile (pdf) from the Enterprise Studies page (part of the The World Bank Group)
 * BBC country profile