Africa-Press – Eswatini. His Majesty King Mswati III chosen as Resource Mobilisation Champion of the Organisation of the African Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) rallied the 79 member countries to raise about 10 million Euros (approximately E198 million for the financially challenged organisation.
At the time the OACPS approached the King for his intervention to lead the resource mobilisation efforts last year, the Secretariat was faced with serious financial challenges threatening the existence of the organisation.
As a result, His Majesty the King ahead of the 11th Summit of the OACPS held here in Malabo wrote personal letters to all the members urging them to contribute financial support other than just looking at its main partner, which is the European Union to come to their rescue.
Speaking at the summit, the King first thanked the member states for entrusting him with the responsibility to be Champion of the Resource Mobilisation efforts with the aim of raising a specific target urgently needed by the Secretariat to carry out its objectives.
His Majesty the King stated that addressing outstanding obligations, including indebtedness to staff, was essential to restoring institutional credibility and operational stability.
“We must invest in meaningful reforms, including the modernisation of our organisation, to ensure that it is efficient, fit for purpose, and capable of delivering results for all member states,” he said.
The King said the confidence reflects their collective commitment to strengthening the institutional resilience and financial sustainability of the OACPS.
“The question of resource mobilisation is not merely technical; it is profoundly political. It goes to the heart of our collective aspiration for economic sovereignty.
“Without sustainable, predictable, and self-directed financing, our development priorities remain vulnerable to external pressures and global uncertainties,” the King said.
He said a financially sound and self-sustainable organisation, gives credibility and confidence, not only to member states, but existing stakeholders and potential partners.
The King said resource mobilisation is a fundamental condition for asserting the organisation’s independence and shaping its own development trajectory. Stating that charity begins at home.
“The vision that binds us is clearly articulated in the revised Georgetown agreement. In particular, article 5 (a) calls upon us “to promote the efforts of member states to eradicate poverty, achieve sustainable development, and fully benefit from the advantages of trade, through their gradual and more effective participation in the world economy.”
“Today, here in Malabo, we must give practical effect to this commitment. This roundtable is therefore a decisive moment, one that will determine whether we equip the OACPS with the financial capacity required to realise these objectives and secure a more resilient and self-reliant future,” he said.
His Majesty the King said their efforts must be guided by principles that reflect both the letter and spirit of the Georgetown agreement.
He said resource mobilisation must be aligned with national priorities and regional strategies, ensuring ownership and relevance.
“Above all, we must focus on measurable impact, ensuring that every contribution translates into tangible progress in the lives of our citizens and the resilience of our economies,” he said.
His Majesty assured the member states that this requires structured follow-up on financial commitments, transparent reporting systems, and rigorous impact evaluation.
“Accountability must be central to our efforts, ensuring that both member states and partners deliver on their commitments. Transparency must underpin all financial flows and institutional processes.
“We wish to assure member states and partners of credible audit processes that include approvals from the council of ministers on the proposed use of all resources received by the organisation,” the King said.
KING PLEDGES E30M TO OACPS
BY KING’S OFFICE CORRESPONDENTS
MALABO, EQUATORIAL GUINEA – His Majesty the King on behalf of the Kingdom of Eswatini pledged 1.5 million (approximately E30 million) towards the Organisation of African Caribbean and Pacific States’ resource mobilisation drive.
The King made the pledge yesterday as the Champion of the Resource Mobilisation exercise at the 11th Summit of the OACPS held here.
His Majesty the King stated that the Organisation urgently needs about 10 million Euros (approximately E200 million) to settle its debts and normalises it operations. The King said it was important that as member states they stand up and contribute financial resources for its own survival.
The roundtable of members states led by His Majesty the King as Champion of the Resource Mobilisation head raised 12.8 million Euros, (which approximately E252 million).
Countries that made the pledges other than the kingdom were Equatorial Guinea with 5 million euros, Angola with 3 million Euros, Tanzania and Mozambique contributed 2 million euros in total.
Many other member states His Majesty the King called from the floor promised to touch base with their governments and will contact the OACPS Secretariat in Brussels to report how much they will be pledging.
The King appreciated the support demonstrated by the member state and said doing so encourages those stakeholders and partners who support the organisation when they notice that they are too concerned about the state of their affairs.
“We have come to the stage where all of us as member states are going to make voluntary contributions in order to resuscitate the work of our organisation.
“As the champion of resource mobilisation, the Kingdom of Eswatini is pleased to lead by example by contributing a sum of 1.5 million Euros to support the work of the OACPS,” the King said.
He said if the organisation was to secure its future it must act decisively on sustainable financing and made the two critical appeals.
“First, we urge all member states that are in arrears to honour their financial obligations. Our organisation cannot function effectively if contributions are not paid. Meeting these obligations is not only a legal duty under our framework, but also a demonstration of commitment to our shared vision.
“Second, we encourage all member states and partners to make voluntary contributions to strengthen the financial base of the organisation. We must contribute over and above our minimum obligations and embrace a culture of collective responsibility and solidarity,” the King said.
His Majesty said the future of the OACPS depends on what they as members do now.
“Let us transform this moment into a turning point, where commitments are translated into resources, and resources into results. Together, we can build a stronger, more resilient, and more self-reliant OACPS,” he said.
EU PARTNERSHIP KEY FOR OACPS – HMK
MALABO, EQUITORIAL GUINEA – His Majesty King Mswati III has called on the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) to strengthen and expand its long-standing partnership with the European Union(EU).
Delivering an address at the ongoing 11th OACPS Summit here, the King underscored the critical role the EU has played since the organisation’s inception in 1975, framing the relationship as a grounded economic partnership that has provided preferential market access and soft loans to developing nations.
He noted that support from the European Investment Bank has been instrumental in financing development across the three regions and stressed that such cooperation was never intended to be mere aid, but rather a sustainable framework to enhance development for future generations.
“We are grateful that the EU ensures that we enjoy preferential treatment and market access, which continues to change the lives of many peoples in our member states,” His Majesty said.
The King cited the Kingdom of Eswatini as a direct beneficiary of the partnership, pointing to EU-backed initiatives that have delivered critical infrastructure and social programmes. These include projects in agriculture, portable water supply, road infrastructure and education, alongside efforts to strengthen human resource development for women, youth and persons with disabilities.
“For the Kingdom of Eswatini, cooperation with the European Union through the OACPS has produced tangible development benefits in economic and social welfare programmes,” he said.
However, the King cautioned that the future of the OACPS depends on collective action in the face of mounting global challenges. He identified climate change as an existential threat, particularly for small island developing states, while debt vulnerabilities and persistent development financing gaps continued to constrain member countries’ capacity to pursue sustainable growth.
Against this backdrop, he called for reforms to the global financial architecture to secure equitable access to development and climate finance.
“In a world increasingly shaped by geopolitical uncertainty, conflicts, and shifting alliances, solidarity among our member states has never been more important than now,” he said.
The King also highlighted the need to engage the private sector as a key driver of economic transformation, entrepreneurship and job creation across member states.
Gathering under the summit theme, “A Transformed and Renewed OACPS in a Changing World,” His Majesty urged member states to translate their historical solidarity into collective action, reinforcing institutions and amplifying their voice in global governance.
“Our unity must translate into collective action that strengthens our institutions, amplifies our voice in global governance, and secures a more sustainable and prosperous future for our peoples,” he concluded.
KING’S OACPS TASK PIVOTAL – MINISTER SHAKANTU
MALABO, EQUATORIAL GUINEA – The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Pholile Senator Shakantu, has commended efforts by His Majesty the King towards raising funds for the OACPS.
She said this was no easy task as His Majesty is responsible for leading high-level political engagements to ensure the financial sustainability of the organisation, revitalise partnerships and mobilise resources in support of OACPS priorities.
She was speaking at the Council of Ministers session during the ongoing 11th Summit of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS).
She recalled that the current resource mobilisation initiative originated from deliberations during an Ambassadorial Retreat in May 2024, where concerns were raised regarding the financial stability of the organisation.
“This led to the establishment of a crisis group composed of ambassadors tasked with examining options to address the financial challenges facing the Secretariat,” she explained.
The minister said that in September 2024, the OACPS concluded a high-level meeting in New York, which combined the Troika Summit with a gathering of the Heads of State and Government from the OACPS Bureau of the Council of Ministers.
This was where, by unanimous decision, the summit appointed former Botswana President Keabetswe Masisi as the Champion for Resource Mobilisation, who served until May last year, when His Majesty the King was requested to serve as Champion of the resource mobilisation exercise.
“Since assuming this mandate, His Majesty has undertaken significant engagements with the OACPS Secretary General and member states to advance this initiative. In particular, the Roundtable on Sustainable Financing, which will take centre stage at this 11th OACPS Summit here in Malabo, is expected to catalyse renewed commitment among member states to mobilise innovative financial mechanisms that support sustainable development priorities across OACPS countries,” she said.
In addition, the minister said that on the margins of the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union, held in Addis Ababa on 14th February 2026, His Majesty, represented by the Prime Minister, Russell Dlamini, held bilateral meetings with the heads of state of Angola, Zambia, Equatorial Guinea and Kenya as part of efforts to secure voluntary financial commitments during the summit.
Outlining the aims of the Round Table, Minister Shakantu said it aims to achieve two important objectives. First, to address the immediate financial stabilisation of the organisation, including the clearance of arrears and the provision of operational support for the Secretariat.
Second, to mobilise long-term programmatic and institutional financing, including contributions to the Endowment and Trust Fund and support for priority areas such as climate resilience, food security, digital transformation, trade integration and human development.
Minister Shakantu said that in light of these efforts, member states are urged to actively participate by honouring their statutory financial commitments, including the settlement of outstanding contributions. Also, countries were called upon to consider making voluntary contributions to support the work and programmes of the organisation.
“The sustainability of the OACPS ultimately depends on our collective commitment as member states,” she concluded.
ANGOLA, EQUATORIAL GUINEA
PRESIDENTS RECEIVE AWARDS
MALABO, EQUATORIAL GUINEA – Two special awards have been presented to the presidents of Angola and Equatorial Guinea.
This was during the 11th Summit of Heads of Sta te and Government of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS).
The awards were announced by youth leader Ashley Lashley who said they were in honour of outstanding leadership and commitment to the organisation’s core values.
Speaking on behalf of the ACP countries during the event, which also commemorates the OACPS’s 50th anniversary, Lashley presented the OACPS Champion – Brazilian Award to Angola President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço and the OACPS Champion for South-South Cooperation Award to Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.
Lashley, identified as one of the Youth Advisors to the United Nations Secretary-General on Climate Change, said the awards were instituted on the occasion of the 7th and 11th OACPS Summits to recognise personalities whose leadership, actions and dedication embody the fundamental values and enduring spirit of the OACPS partnership.
On the OACPS Champion – Brazilian Award, Lashley described it as a crystal high-rise structure symbolising both success and resilience. “This design represents the patience, force, and strength required to overcome challenges and build a sustainable future. Each level of the structure symbolises a milestone attained through determination and steadfast commitment, culminating in a summit that reflects stability, strength, and perseverance.”
She added that the award stands as a powerful illustration of how resilient leadership can transform challenges into firm foundations for a brighter future.
On the OACPS Champion for South-South Cooperation, Lashley said the trophy draws inspiration from the iconic People’s Rock on the island of Bioko, which overlooks the city of Malabo. Lashley explained: “Its life-like crystalline form rises sharply towards a sheer summit. The design pays tribute to the convergence of efforts towards a shared objective… founded on solidarity, trust and the collective building of a shared future.”
She emphasised that, just as the different facets of the crystal form a single strong structure, OACPS partner states join forces to reach new heights of development and cooperation.
The presentations took place amid the 11th OACPS Summit in Malabo, held under the theme of a transformed and renewed organisation serving inclusive, sustainable, and trust-based multilateralism. The summit marks a significant milestone in the OACPS’s 50-year history, bringing together leaders from 79 member states across Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.
