FOREIGN
RELATIONS
Lesotho's
geographic location makes it extremely vulnerable to political
and economic developments in South Africa. It is a member of many
regional economic organizations including the Southern African
Development Community (SADC) and the Southern African Customs
Union (SACU). Lesotho also is active in the United Nations, the
African Union, the Nonaligned Movement, the Commonwealth, and
many other international organizations. In addition to the United
States, South Africa, China, the United Kingdom, Libya, Ireland
(Consulate General), and the European Union, all currently retain
resident diplomatic missions in Lesotho. The United Nations is
represented by a resident mission as well, including UNDP, UNICEF,
WHO, FAO, WFP, and UNAIDS.
Lesotho has historically maintained generally close ties with the United States, European Union member states, and other Western countries. Although Lesotho decided in 1990 to break relations with the People's Republic of China (P.R.C.) and reestablish relations with Taiwan, in 1993 the nation restored ties with the P.R.C. Lesotho also recognizes Palestine as a state, was a strong public supporter of the end of apartheid in South Africa, and granted a number of South African refugees political asylum during the apartheid era. Resident diplomatic missions include the United States, Ireland, the European Union, South Africa, China (P.R.C.), and Libya.
U.S.-LESOTHO
RELATIONS
The United States was one of the first four countries to establish an embassy in Maseru after Lesotho gained its independence from Great Britain in 1966. Since this time, Lesotho and the United States have consistently maintained productive bilateral relations. In 1996, the United States closed its resident bilateral aid program in Lesotho. In 2007, however, the Government of Lesotho signed a compact with the Millennium Challenge Corporation to provide $362.5 million in support over the next five years to develop Lesotho's water, healthcare infrastructure, and private sector. An in-country program to support the President's Emergency Program for AIDS Relief was established in 2005 and also includes representatives of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Centers for Disease Control. The Peace Corps has operated in Lesotho since 1966. About 90 Peace Corps volunteers concentrate in the sectors of health, agriculture, education, rural community development, and the environment. The Government of Lesotho encourages greater American participation in commercial life and welcomes interest from potential U.S. investors and suppliers.
DEFENSE
The security force is composed of the Lesotho Defense Force (LDF--estimated
5,000 personnel) and the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS--estimated
3,000-4,000 personnel). The LDF consists of an army and an air wing. The LDF
reports to the Prime Minister (who is the Minister of Defense and National
Security), while the Lesotho Mounted Police Service reports to the Minister of
Home Affairs. There also is a National Security Service (NSS) for intelligence,
which is directly accountable to the Prime Minister. Relations between the
police and the army have occasionally been tense, and in 1997 the army was
called upon to put down a serious police mutiny.
Principal U.S. Officials
Ambassador--Robert B. Nolan
Deputy Chief of Mission--W. Patrick Murphy
Management Officer--Craig Anderson
Consular Officer--Joyce Brooks
Public Diplomacy Officer--Christopher Smith
General Services Officer--Wendy Kahler
Information Management Officer--Dwayne Taylor
Director, Peace Corps--Hilliard Denham
The mailing address of the U.S. Embassy is P.O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho. Tel: (266) 22-312-666; fax: (266) 22-310-116. E-mail: infomaseru@state.gov.
