The Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) is the military of the Southern African Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland). It is used primarily during domestic protests, with some border and customs duties; the force has never been involved in a foreign conflict.[2] The army has struggled with high rates of HIV infection. Since measures were put in place the rate is dropping.[3]
| Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force | |
|---|---|
| Founded | June 1979 |
| Service branches | Army Air Force |
| Leadership | |
| Commander-in-chief | King Mswati III |
| Prime Minister | Russell Dlamini |
| Defense Principal Secretary | Prince Sicalo Nkopolo Dlamini |
| Commander | Lieutenant General Hulumende Mashikilisane Fakudze |
| Personnel | |
| Military age | 18-30[note 1] |
| Conscription | No |
| Available for military service | 344,038, age 18–49 (2010 est.) |
| Fit for military service | 201,853 males, age 18–49 (2010 est.), 175,477 females, age 18–49 (2010 est.) |
| Reaching military age annually | 16,168 males (2010 est.), 15,763 females (2010 est.) |
| Active personnel | 3,000+ |
| Reserve personnel | 0 |
| Deployed personnel | 0 |
| Expenditures | |
| Budget | $115 million (2011 est.)[1] |
| Percent of GDP | 3.0% of GDP (2011 est.)[1] |
| Related articles | |
| Ranks | Military ranks of Eswatini |
History and structure
The UEDF replaced the Royal Swaziland Defence Force, which was created in 1973 to replace the role of the British Army following independence in 1968.
The King of Eswatini is the commander-in-chief of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force, and the substantive minister of defence.[4] However, he delegates the responsibilities of the day-to-day activities of the executive arm of the government.[5]
There is a Defence Council, which is responsible for advising the King on all matters pertaining to the UEDF.[5] The UEDF is commanded by Major General Stanley Dlamini; the deputy commander is Brigadier General Patrick Motsa,[6] and the formation commander is Lieutenant General Hulumende M. Fakudze.[7]
Ranks
- Officers
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force |  | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commander in Chief | General | Lieutenant general | Major general | Brigadier | Colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- Enlisted
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force | | | | | | | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warrant officer I | Warrant officer II | Staff Sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance Corporal | Private | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Equipment
Armoured personnel carriers
| Vehicle | Country of origin | Type | Versions | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RG-31 Nyala |  South Africa | Armoured vehicles | Mk5E | 7[8] | 7 delivered in the 1990s |
Weapons
| Weapon | Country of origin | Type | Versions | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armalite AR-18[9] |  United States | Assault rifle | AR-180 | Unknown | |
| INSAS rifle |  India | Assault rifle | Yes | ||
| IMI Galil[10] |  Israel | Assault rifle | Unknown | Yes | |
| SIG SG 540[10] |  Switzerland | Assault rifle | Unknown | Unknown | |
| FN FAL[10] |  Belgium | Battle rifle | Unknown | Yes | |
| Sterling submachine gun[10] |  United Kingdom | Submachine gun | Unknown | Unknown | |
| Uzi[10] | Israel | Submachine gun | Unknown | Yes | |
| FN MAG[10][11] | Belgium | General-purpose machine gun | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Branches
Air Force
Eswatini maintains a relatively small air wing, part of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force.[12] The air wing is mainly used for transporting the King as well as cargo, and personnel; surveying land with search and rescue functions, and mobilising in case of a national emergency.[13]
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Both Arava 201s have crashed; the first was on a demo flight in the 1980s, leaving both pilots dead.[14] The second was lost in 2004, after bad weather caused the flight crew led by pilot army colonel Micheal Ranft to fail to unlock the flight controls lock pin. This caused the plane to crash into a sugar cane field after failing to rotate. Although no injuries were reported, the incident left the air force temporarily crippled.[2]
Aircraft
Current inventory
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helicopter | ||||||
| Aérospatiale Alouette III | France | utility | 3[15] | |||
| Bell UH-1 | United States | utility | UH-1H | 2[15] | donated by the Government of Taiwan[16] | |
Retired inventory
| Aircraft | Country of origin | Type | Versions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IAI Arava | Israel | Cargo plane | IAI 202[17] | 2 delivered, one crashed in the 1980s, and the other in 2004 |
| Douglas DC-3 | United States | Cargo plane |
Army
The Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force is the main component of Eswatini's military.[18]
Facilities
- Nsingizini Army Barracks
- Mbuluzi Barracks
- Mdzimba Mountain Barracks
- Phocweni Barracks
- Cebisa Barracks
- Zombodze Barracks
Units
- Ludlalukhala Regiment
- Lindimpi Regiment (watchman/guard)
- Gcina Regiment
Due to Eswatini being landlocked, the country does not maintain a navy.[18]
Commanders
| No. | Photo | Name (birth–death) | Term of office | Ref. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||
| 1 |  | Prince Bhekimpi Dlamini (1924–1999) | 15 March 1973 | 10 October 1973 | 4 years, 209 days | [19] |
| 2 | | Major general Prince Maphevu Dlamini (1922–1979) | 10 October 1973 | 25 October 1979 † | 2 years, 15 days | [20] |
| 3 | | Colonel Jameson Ndzimandze | 12 February 1981 | 8 June 1984 annulled | 3 years, 117 days | [21][22] |
| 4 | | Brigadier Roy Gedion Fonono Dube (?–2017) | 8 June 1984 | August 2000 | 16 years, 1 month | [22] |
| 5 |  | Lieutenant general Stanley Dlamini (born 1953) | August 2000 | 29 June 2019 | 18 years, 10 months | [23][24] |
| 6 | _(cropped).jpg) | Lieutenant general Jeffrey Sipho Tshabalala (born 1959) | 29 June 2019 | 22 April 2022 resigned | 2 years, 297 days | [25] |
| – | Lieutenant general Hulumende Mashikilisane Fakudze (born c. 1963) Acting | 22 April 2022 | Incumbent | 2 years, 9 days | [26] | |
Notes
References
Bibliography
- Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35th edition (January 27, 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook (2024 ed.). CIA. (Archived 2010 edition.)
