By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE: Tengetile Khumalo, the Spokesperson of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force(UEDF)has refuted reports that soldiers disappeared after the deployment of US Marines at the Embassy of the United States.

Responding to questions from this Swaziland News, the UEDF Spokesperson said generally their operations and deployments are informed by numerous factors, but not limited to, threat assessment.

"Thank you Nkhosi for your endeavour to seek clarity from the UEDF Public Relations Office on the matter in question.

Firstly, My Office, is not aware that  operations have been ceased at Ezulwini. Generally, our operations and deployments are informed by numerous factors, but not limited to, threat assessment.  On another note, military operations are diverse and cannot be  necessarily determined by visible presence. To enlighten you, against this backdrop, as a matter of principle, military operations are treated as classified information which means they cannot be discussed in the public discourse. Nevertheless, operations are ongoing" said the eSwatini Army Spokesperson.

On another note, Stephanie Sandoval, the Public Relations Officer(PRO) in the United States Embassy Eswatini has clarified that Ambassador Jeanne Marie Maloney was not in the vehicle  that was shot by eSwatini soldiers.

Responding to questions from this Swaziland News on Friday, the US Embassy Spokesperson further mentioned that the deployment of Marines at Ezulwini should not be interpreted as meaning that the security of the diplomats including the Ambassador was at stake as Marines were always there to ensure their security.

“The diplomats were never unsafe, the marines have always been there to ensure their security , the shooting was just an isolated incident”, she said.