Lesotho: Political overview

The political background to the contemporary Kingdom of Lesotho may be periodized as follows:

• Human settlement before the Kingdom
• Rise and consolidation of the Kingdom (1820-1868)
• Early British protectorate (1868-1913)
• Late British protectorate (1914-1966)
• One party rule (1966-1986)
• Military rule (1986-1993)
• Democracy and instability (1993-1998)
• Constitutional reform and stability (1998-2006)