US diplomats shot by eSwatini soldiers at roadlock

Two wounded American diplomats were airlifted from Mbabane in eSwatini last week after soldiers opened fire on them at a roadblock, reports News24. The soldiers apparently mistook the diplomats, who were travelling in an official vehicle, for drug smugglers, according to Rapport. It is alleged that the Americans made a U-turn near the roadblock. A spokesperson for the US Department of State would only confirm that the diplomatic employees were ‘safe’. The spokesperson said: ‘We are working with the Government of eSwatini to investigate the circumstances of the incident.’ eSwatini’s acting government spokesperson Thabile Mdluli said the incident occurred on 11 September. Soldiers were manning a military roadblock at Maphiveni in the Lubombo region, about 120km north-east of Mbabane. It is not known whether the diplomatic staff were aware of the roadblock or if they were lost when they turned around shortly before it. The soldiers apparently opened fire on the vehicle without first establishing who the occupants were. It is also unknown whether the vehicle bore official markings indicating it was a diplomatic vehicle.

Full News24 report