Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force

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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]

Equipment

Armoured personnel carriers

Vehicle Country of origin Type Versions In service Notes
RG-31 Nyala File:Flag of South Africa.svg 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] File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Assault rifle AR-180 Unknown
INSAS File:Flag of India.svg India Assault rifle Unknown Yes
IMI Galil[9] File:Flag of Israel.svg Israel Assault rifle Unknown Yes
SIG SG 540[9] File:Flag of Switzerland.svg  Switzerland Assault rifle Unknown Unknown
FN FAL[9] File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium Battle rifle Unknown Yes
Sterling[9] File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Submachine gun Unknown Unknown
Uzi[9] File:Flag of Israel.svg Israel Submachine gun Unknown Yes
FN MAG[9][10] File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium General-purpose machine gun Unknown Unknown

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/BlankTemplate:Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armies/OR/Eswatini

Branches

Army

The Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force is the main component of Eswatini's military.[11]

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.[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]

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.[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 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[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 File:Flag of Israel.svg Israel Cargo plane IAI 202[17] 2 delivered, one crashed in the 1980s, and the other in 2004
Douglas DC-3 File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Cargo plane

Facilities

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

Units

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

Commanders

No. Photo Name
(birth–death) 		Term of office Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
1 File:Noimage.png Prince Bhekimpi Dlamini
(1924–1999) 		15 March 1973 10 October 1973 Template:Ayd [18]
2 File:Noimage.png Major general
Prince Maphevu Dlamini
(1922–1979) 		10 October 1973 25 October 1979 † Template:Ayd [19]
3 File:Noimage.png Colonel
Jameson Ndzimandze 		12 February 1981 8 June 1984
annulled 		Template:Ayd [20][21]
4 File:Noimage.png Brigadier
Roy Gedion Fonono Dube
(?–2017) 		8 June 1984 August 2000 Template:Age in years and months [21]
5 File:MEDFLAG 2009 - Mass Casualty Scenario - United States Army Africa - 090806-F-8133W329.jpg Lieutenant general
Stanley Dlamini
(born 1953) 		August 2000 29 June 2019 Template:Age in years and months [22][23]
6 File:Jeffrey Sipho Tshabalala (4605161645) (cropped).jpg Lieutenant general
Jeffrey Sipho Tshabalala
(born 1959) 		29 June 2019 26 August 2021
resigned 		Template:Ayd [24][25]
– File:No image.png General
Moses Hulumende Mashikilisana Fakudze
(born c. 1963) 		26 August 2021 16 May 2022 Template:Ayd [26]
7 16 May 2022 Incumbent Template:Ayd [27]

Notes

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Crash diminishes Swaziland's air force". Independent Online (South Africa). November 23, 2004. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
  2. ↑ "allAfrica.com: Swaziland: Army Slowly Winning the HIV/Aids Battle". 2010-12-18. Retrieved 2010-12-18.
  3. ↑ "Swaziland: Time for Democracy?". Africafocus.org. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Security in Swaziland, Swaziland Security, Ministry of Defence, Swaziland welcome, Commonwealth". Commonwealth-of-nations.org. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  5. ↑ "Welcome to the home page of the Government of Swaziland". Retrieved 2010-08-15.[dead link]
  6. ↑ "Welcome to the home page of the Government of Swaziland". Retrieved 2010-08-15.[dead link]
  7. ↑ "Arms Trade Register". SIPRI. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  8. ↑ Bishop, Chris. Guns in Combat. Chartwell Books, Inc (1998). ISBN 0-7858-0844-2.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  10. ↑ "Military of Swaziland". eNotes. 2012-07-06. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  11. ↑ "CIA - The World Factbook". Cia.gov. Archived from the original on January 10, 2021. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  12. ↑ "Photo Search Results". Airliners.net. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  13. ↑ "Air force (Swaziland) - Sentinel Security Assessment - Southern Africa". Janes.com. 2011-04-12. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  14. ↑ "ASN Aircraft accident IAI Arava 201 3D-DAB Zomba Air Base". Aviation-safety.net. 1980-01-15. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "World Air Forces 2022". Flightglobal. 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  16. ↑ "eSwatini receives two Hueys donated by Taiwan". defenceWeb. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  17. ↑ "Swazi military aviation OrBat". Milaviapress.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-07. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  18. ↑ Tshabalala, Jeffrey; Nhlengethwa, Cyprian; Rupiya, Martin (2005). "Caught between tradition and regional warfare: The Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force since 1968". In Rupiya, Martin (ed.). Evolutions & Revolutions: A Contemporary History of Militaries in Southern Africa (PDF). Institute for Security Studies. ISBN 978-1919913827. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  19. ↑ Tshabalala, Nhlengethwa & Rupiya 2005, pp. 284, 287.
  20. ↑ "Appointment of Chief of Staff (Army) to the Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force" (PDF). Supplement to the swaziland government gazette. Vol. XXI no. 218. Mbabane. 22 April 1983. p. S1. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Part C: Legal Notices" (PDF). Supplement to the swaziland government gazette. Vol. XXII no. 312. Mbabane. 14 September 1984. p. S3-S4. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  22. ↑ "Former UEDF General Sobantu S. Dlamini". uedf.mil.sz. Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force. Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  23. ↑ "Welcome to the home page of the Government of Swaziland". Archived from the original on May 23, 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-15.
  24. ↑ Nhlabatsi, Sifiso (29 July 2019). "King Appoints New Army Commander". new.observer.org.sz. Archived from the original on 2023-04-03. Retrieved 2019-09-26.
  25. ↑ Mkhaliphi, Mthobisi (26 August 2021). "Some political parties welcome resignation of Eswatini's defence force commander". SABC News. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  26. ↑ Shabangu, Simon (26 August 2021). "King Appoints Acting Army Commander". new.observer.org.sz. Archived from the original on 11 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  27. ↑ Zwane, Sibusiso (17 May 2022). "King promotes Mashikilisana". Times of Eswatini. p. 9. Retrieved 8 December 2024.

Bibliography

Template:Eswatini topics Template:Military of Africa

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