Lesotho: Military rule (1986-1993)

Updated March 2007

The Military Council which seized power January 1986 was deeply divided between monarchists, closely related to King Moshoeshoe II, who wished to re-establish chiefly rule and pragmatists who rejected such a programme as unworkable (Lesotho Government Undated, Institute of Security Studies 2003). Though the new regime enjoyed the support of royalists and traditional leaders as well as conservatives in the Basotho National Party (BNP), the relationship between the government and South Africa alienated the population at large (Institute of Security Studies 2003). The nature of the relationship was vividly illustrated by the expulsion of the ANC just five days after the coup and the subsequent lifting of the blockade of Lesotho by South Africa; South Africa also undertook to end support for the Basotho Congress Party (BCP) (Encyclopedia of the Nations 2005; Institute of Security Studies 2003). Public opinion favoured a return to democracy and the opposition parties, led by the BCP, demanded the restoration of the independence Constitution, but the Military Council instead suspended all "formal political activity" in March (Saunders 2002, 523; Encyclopedia of the Nations 2005).

The ruthless clamp down on the radical wing of the BNP, and the death of Chief Jonathan in 1987, removed some immediate pressure from the regime from the right (Institute of Security Studies 2003). However pressure from the left increased, for in April 1988 the main opposition parties united to appeal to the Organisation of African Unity for an end to military rule; in May BCP leader Ntsu Mokhehle returned from exile and the factions of the BCP were reunited under his leadership while the Lesotho Liberation Army was disbanded by 1990 (Saunders 2002, 524; Institute of Security Studies 2003). The dependence of the regime on South Africa was displayed to the world once more with the visit of Pope John Paul II to the Kingdom in September 1988 (Institute of Security Studies 2003). While opposition to the government gained momentum, internal conflicts culminated in a power struggle within the Military Council in February 1990. Maj Gen Lekhanya responded to the crisis by removing executive and legislative powers from the King and purging the royalist faction from the government, thus adding royalists and traditionalists to the growing list of the government's opponents (Institute of Security Studies 2003, Saunders 2002, 524).

The government attempted to bolster its position by announcing a return to democracy at the end of February 1990 (Wikipedia 2007; Institute of Security Studies 2003). In March the King went into exile, but Lekhanya pressed ahead and in May established a National Constitutional Assembly which met in June (Columbia Encyclopedia 2007; Institute of Security Studies 2003; Saunders 2002, 524). To enhance the legitimacy of the process the King was invited to return in October but this move miscarried as, taking on the role of defender of democracy, he refused unless the 1966 Constitution was restored and elections were held under international supervision (Saunders 2002, 524; Institute of Security Studies 2003). The government responded by deposing Moshoeshoe II on the 6 November and instead installed his son, King Letsie III, as constitutional monarch (Wikipedia 2007; Institute of Security Studies 2003). Meanwhile Lekhanya found himself further isolated as the South African government, moving towards democracy in South Africa itself, ended its support for his government (Institute of Security Studies 2003). Matters came to a head when corruption scandals and a pay dispute in the military led to a coup by junior officers under the leadership of Colonel Elias Phitsoane Ramaema in April 1991 and Lekhanya was permitted to go into exile in South Africa (Institute of Security Studies 2003; Encyclopedia of the Nations 2005).

References

COLUMBIA ELECTRONIC ENCYCLOPEDIA 2007, "Lesotho History", 6th ed, Infoplease/Columbia University Press [www] http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/world/A0859249.html [opens new window] (accessed 23 Oct 2007).

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE NATIONS 2005, "Lesotho History", Thomson Gale, [www] http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Lesotho-HISTORY.html [opens new window] (accessed 23 Oct 2007).

INSTITUTE OF SECURITY STUDIES 2003, "Lesotho: History and Politics", [www] http://www.iss.co.za/af/profiles/Lesotho/Politics.html [opens new window] (accessed 23 Oct 2007).

LESOTHO GOVERNMENT UNDATED, "History of the Basotho", [www] http://www.lesothoemb-usa.gov.ls/profile.htm [opens new window] (accessed 23 Oct 2007).

SAUNDERS 2002, "Lesotho: Recent History" IN Murison, K (ed) Africa South of the Sahara 2002, Europa Publications.

WIKIPEDIA 2007, "History of Lesotho", [www] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Lesotho [opens new window] (accessed 23 Oct 2007).