Two U.S. government officials were accidentally shot and wounded by Eswatini’s defence force during an anti‑smuggling operation last week, the government of the Southern African monarchy said.
Acting government spokesperson Thabile Mdluli announced that the incident occurred on Friday in the rural village of Maphiveni, roughly a two‑hour drive from the capital, Mbabane.
It is not yet clear why the U.S. personnel were in the area, but Mdluli said the army has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
She added that Eswatini is in communication with the U.S. government as the investigation progresses and remains committed to strengthening its longstanding relationship with Washington.
The U.S. State Department has not yet responded to a request for comment.
Eswatini has maintained close ties with the U.S. under President Donald Trump, hosting more than 30 third‑country deportees and agreeing to host 160 under a $5.1 million agreement that has been challenged by lawyers who say deportees are being detained despite having already served sentences for crimes committed in the U.S.
