UN chief condemns killing of former Lesotho defense force commander

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Friday condemned the killing of former commander of the Lesotho Defense Force near Maseru, capital of the Kingdom of Lesotho, according to a statement of the secretary-general's spokesperson.

According to local media reports, Lieutenant General Maaparankoe Mahao, the former commander of the Lesotho Defense Force, was shot dead Thursday in an exchange of gunfire that took place outside of Maseru between him and a group of soldiers who were on a mission to arrest him.

There were previously unsuccessful attempts on his life. In August 2014, gunmen attacked the Mahao's home in Maseru, exacerbating a struggle competing for control of the military, according to the local media reports.

The secretary-general expressed his condolences to the bereaved family and urged the government of the Kingdom of Lesotho to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice, said the statement.

"The secretary-general reiterates the urgent need to move forward with institutional and security reforms as outlined in the government's Coalition Agreement for Stability and Reform and recommended by the Southern African Development Community (SADC)," said the statement.

The secretary-general reaffirmed the continued commitment of the United Nations to support the efforts of the government and the people of Lesotho to consolidate peace in the kingdom, said the statement.

Lesotho, officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country in southern Africa. It has an area of more than 30,000 square kilometers and has a population of over two million. Endite