Eswatini’s military acknowledged on Monday that its forces accidentally shot two U.S. government workers during an anti-smuggling operation in the country’s northeast region late Friday. The incident occurred at a military roadblock, where soldiers reportedly mistook the Americans’ vehicle for one attempting to avoid inspection.
The two Americans sustained minor injuries and are reported as safe, according to statements from both the Eswatini government and the U.S. State Department. Eswatini’s government spokesperson, Thabile Mdluli, confirmed to The Associated Press on Tuesday that an investigation is underway. The U.S. State Department stated it is collaborating with Eswatini authorities as part of the probe.
Eswatini’s army spokesperson, Sandile Gwebu, described the incident as now a diplomatic issue being handled jointly by both countries. The Eswatini government emphasized in its statement that the matter is being treated with the seriousness it warrants.
Why the shooting occurred
Eswatini’s military was conducting an anti-smuggling operation in a rural area when the incident took place. According to reporting by the Swaziland News, soldiers at a roadblock believed a vehicle making a U-turn nearby was attempting to evade the checkpoint. The outlet cited army sources who stated the soldiers were unaware the vehicle was driven by U.S. personnel.
The U.S. State Department did not immediately identify the affected personnel or specify their roles. Eswatini’s government also declined to provide further details about their presence in the area during the operation.
Background on Eswatini
Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is a landlocked kingdom of approximately 1.3 million people bordered by South Africa and Mozambique. The country is governed by King Mswati III, who holds absolute political authority as Africa’s last remaining absolute monarch.
The incident follows heightened scrutiny of Eswatini’s security operations amid ongoing regional smuggling concerns. Both governments have framed the shooting as an unintended error, though the lack of immediate transparency regarding the victims’ identities and roles has contributed to ongoing questions about the circumstances.