The name "Swaziland", the King said, had caused confusion. "Whenever we go abroad, people refer to us as Switzerland," he added.
"Swaziland is no more" refers to the recent name change of the African country to Eswatini. This name change was officially announced by the King of Swaziland, Mswati III, in April 2018.
The name change to Eswatini was done to reflect the country's history and culture. "Eswatini" means "land of the Swazis" in the local language, and it has been used by the Swazi people for centuries. The name change was also seen as a way to break away from the colonial past and assert the country's independence.
The name Eswatini has been used by the Swazi people for centuries. It was only in 1968 that the country gained independence from British colonial rule and was named Swaziland. However, the name Eswatini was still commonly used by locals and was officially adopted as the country's new name in 2018.
The name change is primarily symbolic and is not expected to have a major impact on the country. The government has stated that all official documents and international treaties will still be valid under the new name. However, there may be some minor changes in terms of marketing and branding for the country.
The name change has received mixed reactions from both the local population and the international community. Some see it as a positive step towards reclaiming the country's cultural identity, while others see it as unnecessary and a waste of resources. Some have also questioned the timing and motive behind the name change, as it coincided with the King's 50th birthday celebrations.