King Mswati III of Eswatini Says Gay and Lesbian People Will Not Be Welcome While He Rules

King Mswati III of Eswatini told a prayer gathering in Lobamba on Good Friday, April 3, 2026, that gay and lesbian people would not be welcome in Eswatini as long as he remains on the throne. MambaOnline , citing local media, reports that he called homosexuality an “evil act” in the “spirit of Sodom and Gomorrah” and said that same-sex couples had no place in the country under his reign.

Swaziland News reported that a post about the king’s remarks drew more than one million views on social media within twenty-four hours.

The advocacy group Eswatini Sexual and Gender Minorities (ESGM), which has long sought official registration in the country, called the king’s statements irresponsible and harmful.

ESGM linked the monarch’s comments to statements in January 2026 by Minister of Education and Training Owen Nxumalo. Nxumalo claimed that pupils in the country were being “coerced” into homosexuality and told learners and school staff that same-sex relationships were unacceptable in schools because of cultural traditions.

The organization noted that the effects of such remarks are already visible, including reports that six girls were expelled from a school.

Eswatini remains one of the few absolute monarchies in the world. Men suspected of “sodomy” can still be detained without an arrest warrant under the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act, 1938, although in practice this provision is rarely applied.