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The Basotho only emerged as a nation around 1820 when Moshoeshoe the Great gathered the remnants of tribes scattered by Zulu
and Matabele raids and established a stronghold at Butha-Buthe, and later on the mountain of Thaba-Bosiu, about 30km (20 miles)
from what is now Maseru. In 1868, Moshoeshoe placed himself and his people under the protection of the British government.
The Kingdom of Lesotho under King Moshoeshoe II became independent in 1966. The nation is an amalgamation of mainly Sesotho-speaking
people, with some 20 per cent originally of Nguni descent, and the rest San, Griqua, Indian and European. From independence
to the late 1980s, Lesotho’s politics were dominated by the Basutoland National Party (BNP), a conservatively inclined party
initially favouring a policy of accommodation with South Africa, led by Chief Leabua Jonathan.
His autocratic style of rule drew strong opposition, both political and paramilitary, in the form of the Lesotho Liberation
Army, which received South African backing after Jonathan showed signs of tolerating the ANC. On 20 January 1986, Chief Jonathan
was overthrown in a coup by Major General J.M. Lekhanya. Although the South African government vehemently denied any involvement,
the new regime proved more amenable to South African regional security policies. In any event, Lesotho’s political options
were constrained by South Africa: Pretoria’s closure of the border during 1983, which precipitated severe food shortages within
Lesotho, was a telling reminder of South African power. Lekhanya clashed on several occasions with King Moshoeshoe, but in
1991 both Moshoeshoe and Lekhanya were overthrown by a group of army officers under General Elias Ramaema.
The throne passed to Moshoeshoe’s son, the present King Letsie III. General Ramaema promised a return to civilian rule, and
elections for a new National Assembly were held in March 1993. The Basotho Congress Party (BCP) swept the board and party
leader Ntsu Mokhehle became Prime Minister. Eighteen months later, Letsie tried to dissolve the parliament and assume all
legislative and executive power. However, under heavy diplomatic pressure, he was forced to restore constitutional government
the following month, and then abdicated in favour of Moshoeshoe.
Yet in late 1995, Moshoeshoe was killed in a car accident; Letsie succeeded him without controversy and undertook not to involve
the monarchy in politics. Over the next 18 months, the BCP was riven by internal feuding, leading to the dissolution of the
National Assembly and the calling of new elections in May 1998. At the subsequent poll, the BCP was all but wiped out in the
National Assembly as the newly-formed opposition Lesotho Congress for Democracy, led by ex-Foreign Minister Pathtalika Mosilisi,
took 58 of the 60 assembly seats. BCP supporters went on the rampage after the result, and the Government was forced to call
upon South African assistance to restore law and order. Since then, however, Lesotho has enjoyed a period of welcome political
stability. The 1998 result was repeated at the most recent poll in May 2002, with the Congress for Democracy winning an overwhelming
majority once again and Mosilisi securing a second five-year term. In the immediate aftermath of the election Lesotho faced
serious food shortages then affecting much of southern Africa – widespread starvation was averted on this occasion. The political
arena has been dominated by a major corruption scandal involving construction contracts for the Highlands Water Venture. Several
companies and individuals have since been convicted in an affair which has serious implications for development aid.
Overshadowing these and other issues in Lesotho is HIV/AIDS which affects an estimated one-third of the population. Along
with other government in southern Africa, Lesotho faces an incalculable task to deal with the pandemic and its consequences.
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Overview 
