TheUmbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) is the military of theSouthern AfricanKingdom 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.^[2] The army has struggled with high rates ofHIV infection. Since measures were put in place the rate is dropping.^[3]

The UEDF replaced theRoyal Swaziland Defence Force, which was created in 1973 to replace the role of theBritish Army following independence in 1968.

TheKing of Eswatini is the commander-in-chief of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force, and the substantive minister of defence.^[4] However, he delegates the responsibilities of the day-to-day activities of the executive arm of the government.^[5]

There is a Defence Council, which is responsible for advising the King on all matters pertaining to the UEDF.^[5] The UEDF is commanded byMajor General Hulumende M. Fakudze; the deputy commander isBrigadier General Khumalo,^[6] and the formation commander isGeneral Hulumende M. Fakudze.^[7]

Officers

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force v t e
	Commander in Chief		General		Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second lieutenant

Enlisted

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force[8] v t e																																			No insignia
	Warrant officer I						Warrant officer II				Staff Sergeant						Sergeant						Corporal				Lance Corporal								Private

Vehicle	Country of origin	Type	Versions	In service	Notes
RG-31 Nyala	South Africa	Armoured vehicles	Mk5E	7[9]	7 delivered in the 1990s

Weapon	Country of origin	Type	Versions	In service	Notes
Armalite AR-18[10]	United States	Assault rifle	AR-180	Unknown
INSAS	India	Assault rifle	Unknown	Yes
IMI Galil[11]	Israel	Assault rifle	Unknown	Yes
SIG SG 540[11]	Switzerland	Assault rifle	Unknown	Unknown
FN FAL[11]	Belgium	Battle rifle	Unknown	Yes
Sterling[11]	United Kingdom	Submachine gun	Unknown	Unknown
Uzi[11]	Israel	Submachine gun	Unknown	Yes
FN MAG[11][12]	Belgium	General-purpose machine gun	Unknown	Unknown

Eswatini maintains a relatively small air wing, part of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force.^[13] 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.^[14]

Both Arava 201s have crashed; the first was on a demo flight in the 1980s, leaving both pilots dead.^[15] 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 asugar cane field after failing torotate. Although no injuries were reported, the incident left the air force temporarily crippled.^[2]

Aircraft	Country of origin	Type	Versions	Notes
IAI Arava	Israel	Cargo plane	IAI 202[18]	2 delivered, one crashed in the 1980s, and the other in 2004
Douglas DC-3	United States	Cargo plane

The Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force is the main component of Eswatini's military.^[19]

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

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

Due to Eswatini being landlocked, the country does not maintain a navy.^[19]

No.	Photo	Name (birth–death)	Term of office			Ref.
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		PrinceBhekimpi Dlamini (1924–1999)	15 March 1973	10 October 1973	4 years, 209 days	[20]
2		Major general PrinceMaphevu Dlamini (1922–1979)	10 October 1973	25 October 1979 †	2 years, 15 days	[21]
3		Colonel Jameson Ndzimandze	12 February 1981	8 June 1984 annulled	3 years, 117 days	[22][23]
4		Brigadier Roy Gedion Fonono Dube (?–2017)	8 June 1984	August 2000	16 years, 1 month	[23]
5		Lieutenant general Stanley Dlamini (born 1953)	August 2000	29 June 2019	18 years, 10 months	[24][25]
6		Lieutenant general Jeffrey Sipho Tshabalala (born 1959)	29 June 2019	26 August 2021 resigned	2 years, 58 days	[26][27]
–		General Moses Hulumende Mashikilisana Fakudze (bornc. 1963)	26 August 2021	16 May 2022	263 days	[28]
7			16 May 2022	Incumbent	3 years, 193 days	[29]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toMilitary of Eswatini.

• Jones, Richard D.Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35th edition (January 27, 2009).ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
•  This article incorporatespublic domain material fromThe World Factbook (2025 ed.).CIA. (Archived 2010 edition.)

• Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force present rank insignia, uniforminsignia.net

• Military by country
• Military in Africa
• Government of Eswatini

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