The government of Eswatini says Prime Minister Ambrose Dlamini has died, four weeks after he tested positive for coronavirus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A government statement said Dlamini, 52, died on Sunday afternoon in hospital in South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No cause of death was mentioned, but Dlamini had recently been receiving treatment for Covid-19 in South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dlamini had been prime minister of Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, since October 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The tiny landlocked country in southern Africa is one of the last absolute monarchies in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With a population of about one million, the country has recorded 6,768 coronavirus infections and 127 deaths linked to the pandemic, according to the health ministry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dlamini announced he had tested positive for coronavirus on 16 November. At the time, he said he was asymptomatic and was feeling well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A few weeks later, on 1 December, the Eswatini government said Dlamini had been moved to a hospital in South Africa, with the aim of fast-tracking his recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But on Sunday the government said Dlamini died “while under medical care in a hospital in South Africa”, without giving more details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Government in collaboration with the family will keep the nation informed of subsequent arrangements,” Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku said in the statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n