Two US government officials were wounded after being accidentally shot by Eswatini defence forces during an anti-smuggling operation, the government of the southern African kingdom said.
Acting government spokesperson Thabile Mdluli said the incident took place on Friday in Maphiveni, a rural community roughly two hours from the capital, Mbabane.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unclear, including why the US officials were in the area at the time.
Mdluli said Eswatini’s military had opened an investigation into the incident and that authorities were in contact with the US government as the inquiry continued.
She said the kingdom remained committed to maintaining and strengthening its longstanding relationship with Washington.
The US State Department did not immediately comment on the shooting.
Eswatini has maintained close ties with the United States under President Donald Trump.
The country has also agreed to receive third-country nationals deported from the US. More than 30 deportees have already been transferred to Eswatini under an arrangement that could see the kingdom accept up to 160 people.
The agreement is reportedly worth $5.1 million and has faced legal challenges from lawyers who argue that some deportees are being detained despite having already completed prison sentences for offences committed in the United States.
