Drought-prone Eswatini has perennially failed to meet its consumption requirements depending on imports and food aid to cover gaps. The government and the World Food Programme (WFP) have confirmed food insecurity remains high in the landlocked Southern African nation of more than 1,1 million people. Declared a national emergency following an outbreak in March last year, the pandemic has worsened the food insecurity challenges in Eswatini. The Central Bank of Eswatini disclosed the quarterly gross domestic product, slumped by 6,5 percent on a yearly basis. Masisi, the Botswana president, deployed a SADC “fact finding” mission to Eswatini on July 4.

Source: The North Africa Journal July 16, 2021 11:03 UTC