Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland) government confirmed on Tuesday that earlier this month, their military accidentally wounded two American government employees during an anti-smuggling operation in a rural area in the northeast part of the country.
On the evening of September 14 (Monday), the Eswatini government issued an official statement, with government spokesperson Thabile Mdluli confirming to the Associated Press on Tuesday that the two American personnel involved in the incident sustained only “minor injuries,” and their condition is currently stable and safe. Mdluli stated that the relevant authorities have initiated an investigation into the incident.
According to sources in the military quoted by the Swaziland News, soldiers were on duty at a military checkpoint when the incident occurred. A vehicle involved in the incident made a turn near the checkpoint, leading the soldiers to mistakenly believe there were suspicious individuals attempting to bypass the checkpoint illegally, resulting in gunfire. It was only later realized that the driver of the vehicle was an American diplomat.
The northeastern region of Eswatini, bordering Mozambique and South Africa, has been a hotspot for smuggling activities such as illegal border crossings, vehicle theft, cross-border smuggling of weapons and illicit goods, due to its long and poorly guarded border. Consequently, the Eswatini military frequently establishes military checkpoints and conducts operations in the local border areas.
Regarding the specific identities of the individuals involved in this incident and why they were present at the anti-smuggling operation site, both the Eswatini government and the U.S. State Department have not provided immediate clarification. The U.S. State Department stated that it has been informed of the shooting incident and confirmed the “safety of the affected American personnel,” currently closely cooperating with the Eswatini government in the investigation.
Eswatini military spokesperson Sandile Gwebu mentioned that this incident has escalated into a “diplomatic issue” collectively managed by both the U.S. and Eswatini, refraining from disclosing further details. The Eswatini government, in its statement, emphasized that it is handling this incident with the “appropriate level of importance and care.”
Eswatini is a landlocked country located at the junction of South Africa and Mozambique, with a population of approximately 1.3 million. It is governed by King Mswati III, making it the last remaining absolute monarchy in Africa.