Independence (1966–present) Lesotho

lesotho mountain village

the chairman of military junta, major general justin metsing lekhanya, ousted in 1991 , replaced major general elias phisoana ramaema, handed on power democratically elected government of bcp in 1993. moshoeshoe ii returned exile in 1992 ordinary citizen. after return democratic government, king letsie iii tried unsuccessfully persuade bcp government reinstate father (moshoeshoe ii) head of state.

in august 1994, letsie iii staged military-backed coup deposed bcp government, after bcp government refused reinstate father, moshoeshoe ii, according lesotho s constitution. new government did not receive full international recognition. member states of southern african development community (sadc) engaged in negotiations reinstate bcp government. 1 of conditions letsie iii put forward father should re-installed head of state. after protracted negotiations, bcp government reinstated , letsie iii abdicated in favour of father in 1995, ascended throne again when moshoeshoe ii died @ age of fifty-seven in supposed road accident, when car plunged off mountain road during hours of 15 january 1996. according government statement, moshoeshoe had set out @ 1 am visit cattle @ matsieng , returning maseru through maluti mountains when car left road.

in 1997, ruling bcp split on leadership disputes. prime minister ntsu mokhehle formed new party, lesotho congress democracy (lcd), , followed majority of members of parliament, enabled him form new government. pakalitha mosisili succeeded mokhehle party leader , lcd won general elections in 1998. although elections pronounced free , fair local , international observers , subsequent special commission appointed sadc, opposition political parties rejected results.

opposition protests in country intensified, culminating in peaceful demonstration outside royal palace in august 1998. exact details of followed disputed, both in lesotho , south africa. while botswana defence force troops welcomed, tensions south african national defence force troops high, resulting in fighting. incidences of sporadic rioting intensified when south african troops hoisted south african flag on royal palace. time sadc forces withdrew in may 1999, of capital of maseru lay in ruins, , southern provincial capital towns of mafeteng , mohale s hoek had seen loss of on third of commercial real estate. number of south africans , basotho died in fighting.

an interim political authority (ipa), charged reviewing electoral structure in country, created in december 1998. ipa devised proportional electoral system ensure opposition represented in national assembly. new system retained existing 80 elected assembly seats, added 40 seats filled on proportional basis. elections held under new system in may 2002, , lcd won again, gaining 54% of vote. first time, opposition political parties won significant numbers of seats, , despite irregularities , threats of violence major general lekhanya, lesotho experienced first peaceful election. 9 opposition parties hold 40 of proportional seats, bnp having largest share (21). lcd has 79 of 80 constituency-based seats. although elected members participate in national assembly, bnp has launched several legal challenges elections, including recount; none has been successful.

on 30 august 2014, abortive military coup took place forcing prime minister thomas thabane flee south africa 3 days.