King Mswati III of eSwatini has boycotted the two-day Forum for China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit - which kicked off in the Chinese capital Beijing on Monday and concludes on Tuesday - due to a diplomatic spat with Beijing over Taiwan.

He is one of a handful of African leaders who have not attended and in most cases have sent representatives on their behalf, Africa News reported.

They include John Magufuli of Tanzania who wasn’t present but sent his premier instead while Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza sent his second vice president in his place. 

Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila was represented by his prime minister.

Eritrea President Isaias Afwerki also stayed home while Algerian President Abdul Aziz Bouteflika was represented by his prime minister.