The Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) is the military of the

Southern Africa Southern Africa is the southernmost subregion of the African continent, south of the Congo and Tanzania. The physical location is the large part of Africa to the south of the extensive Congo River basin. Southern Africa is home to a number o ...

Kingdom of Eswatini Eswatini ( ; ss, eSwatini ), officially the Kingdom of Eswatini and formerly named Swaziland ( ; officially renamed in 2018), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to it ...

(Swaziland). It is used primarily during domestic protests, with some border and customs duties; the force has never been involved in a foreign conflict. The army has struggled with high rates of HIV infection. Since measures were put in place the rate is dropping.

History and structure

The UEDF replaced the Royal Swaziland Defence Force, which was created in 1973 to replace the role of the

British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurkha ...

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. However, he delegates the responsibilities of the day-to-day activities of the executive arm of the government. There is a Defence Council, which is responsible for advising the King on all matters pertaining to the UEDF. The UEDF is commanded by

Major General Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of ...

Stanley Dlamini; the deputy commander is

Brigadier General Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointe ...

Patrick Motsa, and the formation commander is

Lieutenant General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on th ...

Hulumende M. Fakudze.

Ranks

;Officers ;Enlisted

Equipment

Armoured personnel carriers

Weapons

Branches

Air Force

Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force Air Wing IAI Arava

Eswatini maintains a relatively small air wing, part of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force. 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. Swazi DF Arava 201 3D-DAA (6547913823)

Both Arava 201s have crashed; the first was on a demo flight in the 1980s, leaving both pilots dead. 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 Sugarcane or sugar cane is a species of (often hybrid) tall, perennial grass (in the genus '' Saccharum'', tribe Andropogoneae) that is used for sugar production. The plants are 2–6 m (6–20 ft) tall with stout, jointed, fibrous stalk ...

field after failing to

rotate Rotation, or spin, is the circular movement of an object around a '' central axis''. A two-dimensional rotating object has only one possible central axis and can rotate in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. A three-dimensional ...

. Although no injuries were reported, the incident left the air force temporarily crippled.

Aircraft

= Current inventory

= Retired inventory

Army

The Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force is the main component of Eswatini's military.

Facilities

* Nsingizini Army Barracks * Mbuluzi Barracks * Mdzimba Mountain Barracks * Phocweni Barracks * Cebisa Barracks * Zombodze Barracks

Units

* Ludlalukhala Regiment * Lindimpi Regiment (watchman/guard) * Gcina Regiment

Navy

Due to Eswatini being landlocked, the country does not maintain a navy.

Commanders

Notes

References

Bibliography

* Jones, Richard D. ''Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010''. Jane's Information Group; 35th edition (January 27, 2009). . * {{Military of Africa

Eswatini Eswatini ( ; ss, eSwatini ), officially the Kingdom of Eswatini and formerly named Swaziland ( ; officially renamed in 2018), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its no ...

Military in Africa Government of Eswatini