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2 U.S. government workers accidentally shot by soldiers during anti-smuggling operation in Eswatini

CBS News • September 15, 2026 • world

Key Points:

Soldiers in Eswatini accidentally shot two U.S. government personnel during an anti-smuggling operation in the country's northeast last Friday, resulting in minor injuries.
The incident occurred when soldiers mistook a car making a U-turn near a military roadblock for someone evading the checkpoint, not realizing it was driven by a U.S. diplomat.
Both the Eswatini government and the U.S. State Department are conducting investigations, with the U.S. confirming the affected personnel are safe.
Eswatini officials have described the matter as a diplomatic issue being handled by both countries and emphasized that the incident is being taken seriously.
The identities of the U.S. personnel and the specific reasons for their presence in Eswatini have not been disclosed.