Two U.S. government workers sustained minor injuries after being accidentally shot by soldiers in the African nation of Eswatini, according to a statement released by the country’s government. The incident occurred late Friday during an anti-smuggling operation conducted by the Eswatini army in a rural northeastern region of the kingdom. Eswatini government spokesperson Thabile Mdluli confirmed that an investigation is currently underway regarding the shooting. The Eswatini government did not immediately disclose the identities of the U.S. personnel or specify the exact nature of their presence in the area. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department acknowledged that it is aware of the incident, confirmed that the affected personnel are safe, and stated that it is collaborating with local authorities on the ongoing inquiry. According to local reports from Swaziland News citing army sources, the shooting took place at a military roadblock when soldiers misidentified a vehicle making a U-turn as someone attempting to illegally bypass the checkpoint, unaware that an American diplomat was driving. Eswatini army spokesperson Sandile Gwebu declined to provide further details, noting that the matter has transitioned into a diplomatic issue being managed jointly by both nations. The Eswatini government emphasized in its official statement that the incident is being treated with the utmost seriousness. Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is a small kingdom with a population of approximately 1.3 million people, situated between South Africa and Mozambique. The nation is ruled by King Mswati III, who maintains absolute political power and is recognized as Africa’s last absolute monarch.
Source: cbsnews.com
