A shield sits at the center of Eswatini’s national flag.
More precisely, it is a black-and-white Nguni shield placed across the central red stripe. Two spears rise behind it, and a staff with feather tassels runs through the design. Together, these elements symbolize protection and Eswatini’s military traditions.
The flag was adopted on 6 October 1968, shortly after the country gained independence from the United Kingdom. Its design draws on a military flag presented by King Sobhuza II to the Swazi Pioneer Corps in 1941. The red stripe represents past battles, blue represents peace and stability, and yellow represents the country’s resources.
The central object is sometimes loosely described as a national emblem or weapon because it appears with spears and a staff. However, the object itself is the Nguni shield; an eagle, sun, or star is not part of the flag’s central design.