SADC to close facilitation mission in Lesotho

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) will close down its facilitation mission in Lesotho following successful elections in the kingdom, it was announced on Sunday.

South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphos, in his capacity as SADC facilitator, will witness the closure of the mission on Monday, his spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said.

"The closing ceremony marks the end of the facilitation mission following the successful SADC intervention which culminated in the recently held elections declared credible, free and fair by elections observers," Mamoepa said.

The elections, held on February 28, arose from provisions of the Maseru Facilitation Accord signed by all Lesotho's political parties as part of efforts to create political stability in the country.

On the other hand, the law enforcement agencies signed the accord which resulted in the taking of leave of absence by three senior Defence and Police officers which created a climate for the stabilization of the security situation in Lesotho.

Defence forces and police officers clashed in late April last year in an abortive coup which sent then Prime Minister Thomas Thabane into hiding in South Africa. Thabane returned home in early September following the SADC's intervention. He lost the February 28 elections to opposition parties.

Even though the SADC facilitation mission offices will be closed down, the SADC Double Troika Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation held in Pretoria early this year urged all Lesotho's political role-players to focus their attention, post the elections, on the constitutional and security sector reforms, Mamoepa said.

"In this regard, SADC has committed itself to continue to assist the people of Lesotho in this process by making available expertise from member-states." Endi