In African terms the possession of a single nationality was the unique resource on which the Swazi monarchy could build in order to have constituted a royally dominated nationalism at independence. Accompanied by constraints whose origins are colonial and neo-colonial, Swazi foreign policy has in its own distinctive way, attempted to preserve Swaziland's independence since. Against the background of the deep conflict within the region, Swaziland's position in the international relations of Southern Africa has been contested, not least by its decision to sign a security agreement with South Africa in 1982, the first OAU state to do so.