Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force: Difference between revisions

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| age                = 18-30<ref group="note">Compulsory HIV testing required, only HIV-negative applicants accepted</ref>
| age                = 18-30<ref group="note">Compulsory HIV testing required, only HIV-negative applicants accepted</ref>
| conscription      = No
| conscription      = No
| manpower_data      = 2010 est.
| manpower_age      = 18–49
| available          = 344,038
| available_f        =
| fit                = 201,853
| fit_f              = 175,477
| reaching          = 16,168
| reaching_f        = 15,763
| active            = 3,000+
| active            = 3,000+
| ranked            =  
| ranked            =  
Line 289: Line 281:
| 26 August 2021<br />{{small|''resigned''}}
| 26 August 2021<br />{{small|''resigned''}}
| {{ayd|2019|06|29|2021|08|26}}
| {{ayd|2019|06|29|2021|08|26}}
| <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=9491|title=King Appoints New Army Commander|last=Nhlabatsi|first=Sifiso|date=29 July 2019|website=new.observer.org.sz|access-date=2019-09-26}}{{Dead link|date=June 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Mkhaliphi |first1=Mthobisi |title=Some political parties welcome resignation of Eswatini’s defence force commander |url=https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/some-political-parties-welcome-resignation-of-eswatinis-defence-force-commander/ |website=SABC News |access-date=8 December 2024 |date=26 August 2021}}</ref>
| <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=9491|title=King Appoints New Army Commander|last=Nhlabatsi|first=Sifiso|date=29 July 2019|website=new.observer.org.sz|access-date=2019-09-26|archive-date=2023-04-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403213351/http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=9491|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Mkhaliphi |first1=Mthobisi |title=Some political parties welcome resignation of Eswatini’s defence force commander |url=https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/some-political-parties-welcome-resignation-of-eswatinis-defence-force-commander/ |website=SABC News |access-date=8 December 2024 |date=26 August 2021}}</ref>
|-  
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| style="background:#e6e6aa;"| –

Latest revision as of 09:35, 13 November 2025

Template:Short description Template:Infobox national military

The Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) is the military of the Southern African Kingdom of Eswatini. It is used primarily during domestic protests, with some border and customs duties; the force has never been involved in a foreign conflict.[1] The army has struggled with high rates of HIV infection. Since measures were put in place the rate is dropping.[2]

History and structure

File:US Army 51988 MEDFLAG 09, Partnership strengthens ties and friendships.jpg
UEDF Lt. Col. Moses Swane speaks with U.S. Army Africa Commander Maj. Gen. William Garrett III during a 2009 medical training exercise

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.[3] However, he delegates the responsibilities of the day-to-day activities of the executive arm of the government.[4]

There is a Defence Council, which is responsible for advising the King on all matters pertaining to the UEDF.[4] The UEDF is commanded by Major General Hulumende M. Fakudze; the deputy commander is Brigadier General Khumalo,[5] and the formation commander is General Hulumende M. Fakudze.[6]

Ranks

Officers
Template:Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armed Forces/OF/BlankTemplate:Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armies/OF/Eswatini
Enlisted
Template:Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armies/OR/Eswatini
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted

Equipment

Armoured personnel carriers

Vehicle Country of origin Type Versions In service Notes
RG-31 Nyala Template:Country data South Africa Armoured vehicles Mk5E 7[7] 7 delivered in the 1990s

Weapons

Weapon Country of origin Type Versions In service Notes
Armalite AR-18[8] Template:Country data United States Assault rifle AR-180 Unknown
INSAS Template:Country data India Assault rifle Unknown Yes
IMI Galil[9] Template:Country data Israel Assault rifle Unknown Yes
SIG SG 540[9] Template:Country data Switzerland Assault rifle Unknown Unknown
FN FAL[9] Template:Country data Belgium Battle rifle Unknown Yes
Sterling[9] Template:Country data United Kingdom Submachine gun Unknown Unknown
Uzi[9] Template:Country data Israel Submachine gun Unknown Yes
FN MAG[9][10] Template:Country data Belgium General-purpose machine gun Unknown Unknown

Branches

Air Force

File:Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force Air Wing IAI Arava.jpg
IAI Arava of the Swazi military air wing in 1995

Eswatini maintains a relatively small air wing, part of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force.[11] 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.[12]

File:Swazi DF Arava 201 3D-DAA (6547913823).jpg
IAI Arava of the Swazi Air Force

Both Arava 201s have crashed; the first was on a demo flight in the 1980s, leaving both pilots dead.[13] 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 was later proven untrue as the crew were cleared that plane's flight controls to not respond to the pilot's yoke. 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.[1]

Aircraft

Current inventory
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Helicopter
Aérospatiale Alouette III France utility 3[14]
Bell UH-1 United States utility UH-1H 2[14] donated by the Government of Taiwan[15]
Retired inventory
Aircraft Country of origin Type Versions Notes
IAI Arava Template:Country data Israel Cargo plane IAI 202[16] 2 delivered, one crashed in the 1980s, and the other in 2004
Douglas DC-3 Template:Country data United States Cargo plane

Army

The Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force is the main component of Eswatini's military.[17]

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.[17]

Commanders

No. Photo Name
(birth–death)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		Term of office Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
1 File:Noimage.png Prince Bhekimpi Dlamini
(1924–1999)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		15 March 1973 10 October 1973 Template:Ayd [18]
2 File:Noimage.png Major general
Prince Maphevu Dlamini
(1922–1979)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		10 October 1973 25 October 1979 † Template:Ayd Template:Sfn
3 File:Noimage.png Colonel
Jameson Ndzimandze 		12 February 1981 8 June 1984
annulledScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		Template:Ayd [19][20]
4 File:Noimage.png Brigadier
Roy Gedion Fonono Dube
(?–2017)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		8 June 1984 August 2000 Template:Age in years and months [20]
5 File:MEDFLAG 2009 - Mass Casualty Scenario - United States Army Africa - 090806-F-8133W329.jpg Lieutenant general
Stanley Dlamini
(born 1953)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		August 2000 29 June 2019 Template:Age in years and months [21][22]
6 File:Jeffrey Sipho Tshabalala (4605161645) (cropped).jpg Lieutenant general
Jeffrey Sipho Tshabalala
(born 1959)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		29 June 2019 26 August 2021
resignedScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		Template:Ayd [23][24]
– File:No image.png General
Moses Hulumende Mashikilisana Fakudze
(born Template:Circa)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		26 August 2021 16 May 2022 Template:Ayd [25]
7 16 May 2022 Incumbent Template:Ayd [26]

Notes

Template:Reflist

References

Template:Reflist

Bibliography

Template:Sister project

Template:Eswatini topics Template:Military of Africa

  1. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Bishop, Chris. Guns in Combat. Chartwell Books, Inc (1998). Template:ISBN.
  9. ↑ a b c d e f Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). Template:ISBN.
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  20. ↑ a b Template:Cite magazine
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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