Two United States government employees were accidentally shot by soldiers in Eswatini last week during a military crackdown on smuggling operations. According to a statement released by the Eswatini government, the incident occurred late Friday in a rural area located in the northeastern part of the country. While officials have not yet disclosed the identities of the victims or explained exactly what their mission was in the region, spokespeople confirmed that both individuals sustained minor injuries and are currently safe.
Reports from local army sources suggest the shooting happened at a military roadblock when a vehicle attempted to make a u-turn. Soldiers reportedly believed the driver was trying to evade the checkpoint illegally and opened fire, unaware that one of the occupants was an American diplomat. This sequence of events has since shifted the situation from a tactical error into a sensitive international matter, with army spokesperson Sandile Gwebu noting that it is now being treated as a diplomatic issue between the two nations.
The U.S. State Department confirmed it is aware of the event and is coordinating closely with authorities in Eswatini to conduct a full investigation into how the mistake happened. Meanwhile, representatives for the small kingdom, which remains Africa’s last absolute monarchy under King Mswati III, insisted that they are treating the incident with all necessary seriousness. As investigations continue, neither government has provided further details regarding those involved or any potential legal repercussions for the soldiers responsible.