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S. African deputy president in Lesotho on peace mission

Xinhua, June 24, 2016 Adjust font size:

South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his capacity as facilitator of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), arrived in Maseru, Lesotho on Wednesday on a working visit aimed at promoting peace and security in the kingdom.

Ramaphosa will hold consultation with political stakeholders in pursuit of peace and stability in Lesotho, the Presidency said.

The visit to Maseru is part of preparations for the forthcoming SADC Organ Troika to be held on June 28, 2016 in Gaborone, Botswana to discuss the situation in Lesotho. The meeting is expected to be attended by leaders from Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Tanzania.

During his visit to Lesotho, Ramaphosa is expected to meet Prime Minister Phakalitha Mosisili and members of his government, members of the opposition political parties, college of chiefs, Council of Churches of Lesotho and representatives of civil society on progress regarding implementation of recommendations for the constitutional and security sector reforms.

Recommendations for the constitutional and security sector reforms were adopted by SADC during its Organ Troika meeting held in Pretoria on July 3, 2015 which urged the Lesotho government to embark on a process of instituting such reforms assisted by the regional body as the basis of a long lasting solution to the political and security challenges facing the Kingdom.

The SADC has been mediating political conflicts in Lesotho which has been in turmoil since 2014 when then Prime Minister Thomas Thabane suspended Parliament to avoid a vote of no confidence that was being pushed by his coalition government partners.

In late August 2014, a coup to oust Thabane was thwarted. Mediated by the SADC, all conflicting parties held early elections last year, but the elections failed to bring political stability in the kingdom, thus prompting the SADC to call for constitutional and security sector reforms. Enditem