Lesotho Introduction - 2004

Background:
Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence from the UK in 1966. King MOSHOESHOE was exiled in 1990. Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after 23 years of military rule. In 1998, violent protests and a military mutiny following a contentious election prompted a brief but bloody South African military intervention. Constitutional reforms have since restored political stability; peaceful parliamentary elections were held in 2002.

NOTE: The information regarding Lesotho on this page is re-published from the 2004 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Lesotho Introduction 2004 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Lesotho Introduction 2004 should be addressed to the CIA.