List of African Union Member States By Political System - Monarchism and Republicanism

Monarchism and Republicanism

See also: Republicanism, Monarchism, and Monarchies in Africa

At present, two monarchies are members of the African Union: Lesotho (ruled by King Letsie III), and Swaziland (ruled by King Mswati III, with Ntombi.) Lesotho is a constitutional monarchy, in which the king or queen serves a largely ceremonial function; he no longer possesses any executive authority and is proscribed from actively participating in political initiatives. According to the constitution, the leader of the majority party in the assembly automatically becomes prime minister; the monarch is hereditary, but, under the terms of the constitution which came into effect after the March 1993 election, the monarch is a "living symbol of national unity" with no executive or legislative powers; under traditional law the college of chiefs has the power to determine who is next in the line of succession, who shall serve as regent in the event that the successor is not of mature age, and may even depose the monarch. Swaziland is an absolute monarchy, currently in the process of democratization. According to current Swazi law and custom, the monarch holds supreme executive, legislative, and judicial powers. The king ("Ngwenyama") is a hereditary leader, receiving assistance from a council of ministers and a national legislature. The senior queen ("Ndlovukati") is in charge of national rituals, and acts as regent if her counterpart Ngwenyama dies and the heir has not performed royal adulthood rituals or is indisposed. If the king's mother is no longer living, one of the king's wives may act as Ndlovukati. The king has constitutional protection from arrest and trial.

In three African states, there are subnational kings, with conventional or traditional roles. The Ashanti Confederacy in Ghana is led by Asantehene (King) Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II; the succession is decided by a series of councils of local notables and other royal family members. KwaZulu-Natal (or Zululand) is led by the king of the Zulu Nation, currently Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu. Although the king does not hold any direct political power, he is provided a stipend by the government of South Africa, and holds considerable sway over more traditionalist Zulu people in the KwaZulu-Natal Province. Due to constitutional reform in Uganda in 1993, the government of Uganda restored several traditional monarchies.

  • Ankole: Omugabe Ntare VI
  • Buganda: Kabaka Muwenda Mutebi II and Nnabagereka Sylvia
  • Bunyoro: Omukama Iguru
  • Busoga: Kyabazinga Henry Wako Muloki
  • Toro: Omukama Rukidi IV

Historically, there have been several monarchies throughout the African continent. Since decolonization, many have been abolished in favor of republics. The following African monarchies have existed in the twentieth century:

  • Kingdom of Burundi (abolished 1966)
  • Central African Empire (abolished 1979)
  • Congo Free State (annexed by Belgium, 1908)
  • Kingdom of Egypt (abolished 1953)
  • Empire of Ethiopia (abolished 1975)
  • Kingdom of Libya (abolished 1969)
  • Rhodesia (not recognized; abolished 1970)
  • Kingdom of Rwanda (abolished 1961)
  • Kingdom of Tunisia (abolished 1957)
  • Sultanate of Zanzibar (abolished 1964, currently a constituent of the United Republic of Tanzania)

Several African colonies were under the sovereignty of the King or Queen of the United Kingdom. Upon independence, several states became Commonwealth realms (formerley known as Dominions), with the British monarch as a titular sovereign. Currently, no former British colonies in Africa are Commonwealth realms:

  • The Gambia (abolished 1970)
  • Ghana (abolished 1960)
  • Kenya (abolished 1964)
  • Malawi (abolished 1966)
  • Mauritius (abolished 1992)
  • Nigeria (abolished 1963)
  • Sierra Leone (abolished 1971)
  • Union of South Africa (abolished 1961)
  • Tanganyika (abolished 1962)
  • Uganda (abolished 1963)

In spite of this, several African states are affiliated with the Commonwealth of Nations:

  • Botswana
  • Cameroon
  • The Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Kenya
  • Lesotho
  • Malawi
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Nigeria
  • Seychelles
  • Sierra Leone
  • South Africa
  • Swaziland
  • Tanzania
  • Uganda
  • Zambia

Read more about this topic:  List Of African Union Member States By Political System