Swaziland's King Mswati, under fire for high royal spending, has declared a humanitarian disaster in his impoverished African country ravaged by drought and HIV/AIDS - a move aimed at bringing in more foreign aid.
"On behalf of His Majesty's government, I appeal to the international community to assist and make whatever available resources in order to respond effectively to the challenges the country is facing," Prime Minister Themba Dlamini said as he announced the move at a news conference late on Wednesday.
Sub-Saharan Africa's last absolute monarch, Mswati has been criticised for pushing through expensive royal projects even though a quarter of his one million subjects receive food aid and 40 percent of Swazi adults are believed to be infected with HIV/AIDS.