Pholile Shakantu | |
|---|---|
![2024.02.02 Zong Tong Jie Jian [Shi Wa Di Ni Wang Guo Wai Jiao Ji Guo Ji He Zuo Bu Chang Dai Bo Li Ji Fu Xu ] - 53502738352 (cropped).jpg](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/2024.02.02_%E7%B8%BD%E7%B5%B1%E6%8E%A5%E8%A6%8B%E3%80%8C%E5%8F%B2%E7%93%A6%E5%B8%9D%E5%B0%BC%E7%8E%8B%E5%9C%8B%E5%A4%96%E4%BA%A4%E6%9A%A8%E5%9C%8B%E9%9A%9B%E5%90%88%E4%BD%9C%E9%83%A8%E9%95%B7%E6%88%B4%E6%9F%8F%E8%8E%89%E6%9A%A8%E5%A4%AB%E5%A9%BF%E3%80%8D_-_53502738352_%28cropped%29.jpg/250px-2024.02.02_%E7%B8%BD%E7%B5%B1%E6%8E%A5%E8%A6%8B%E3%80%8C%E5%8F%B2%E7%93%A6%E5%B8%9D%E5%B0%BC%E7%8E%8B%E5%9C%8B%E5%A4%96%E4%BA%A4%E6%9A%A8%E5%9C%8B%E9%9A%9B%E5%90%88%E4%BD%9C%E9%83%A8%E9%95%B7%E6%88%B4%E6%9F%8F%E8%8E%89%E6%9A%A8%E5%A4%AB%E5%A9%BF%E3%80%8D_-_53502738352_%28cropped%29.jpg) | |
| Education | University of Eswatini Leeds Beckett University |
| Occupations | lawyer and politician |
| Known for | Ministerial career |
Pholile Dlamini Shakantu is a Liswati politician. She has been the Minister of Justice from 2018 and the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2023.
Shakantu studied law at the University of Eswatini and she has a law degree. She also has a master's degree from Leeds Beckett University in Leadership and Change Management. [1]
She was appointed to be the Minister of Justice by King Mswati III in 2018. [1]
She was appointed as a senator by the King on 5 November 2023 after the appointment of Russell Dlamini as the 12th Prime Minister to advise the king about new ministers. [2] There are meant to be about thirty senators in Eswatini and she was one of twenty appointed by the King. [3] Later on 13 November she was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs. [1]
In 2024, Shakantu visited the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Shakantu was received by President Tsai Ing-wen and Vice President Lai Ching-te as an ally. Eswatini is the only remaining country in Africa that recognises the Republic of China. Tsai thanked Shakuntu for her country's support including speaking up at the United Nations. [4] [5] [6] Shakuntu and Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu signed an agreement reaffirming the two countries' close relationship. [7] Over 25 years Taiwan's assistance to Eswatini is estimated to be worth more than two billion dollars. [8]
The Taiwan government started its own digital platform TaiwanPlus in 2021. [9] Shakuntu was shown TaiwanPlus by Deputy Digital Minister Yeh Ning, and they discussed how it could help co-operation and counter disinformation. [7]
Shakuntu is the founder [1] and patron of the Eswatini Network of Women. [10]
Criticism published in South Africa alleges that the King, Shakuntu and her husband are involved with corruption. [11]
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