Lesotho: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 21:47, 2 January 2006

Revision as of 23:57, 2 January 2006

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The present Lesotho emerged as a single polity (state) under a Paramount chief in 1822; it was recognized by Britain on [[13 December]] [[1843]].

On [[12 March]] [[1868]] it became the British Protectorate [[Basutoland]] (already so called after its defining main ethnic and linguistic group, the Sotho people; Ba- and Le- are native Bantu prefixes); [[11 August]] [[1871]] - [[18 March]] [[1884]] it was annexed to the British [[Cape Colony]] (South Africa) as Basutoland territory. On 18 March 1884 Basutoland reemerged as a separate colony, as one of the High Commission Territories. On [[30 April]] [[1965]] it was granted autonomy. ItasIt's name was changed when Lesotho gained full independence from the [[United Kingdom]] on [[October 4]], [[1966]]. In January [[1970]] the ruling [[Basotho National Party]] (BNP) appeared set to lose the first post-independence general elections when Prime Minister [[Leabua Jonathan]] annulled the election. He refused to cede power to the [[Basotho Congress Party]] (BCP) and imprisoned its leadership.

The BNP ruled by [[decree]] until January [[1986]] when a military [[Coup d'état|coup]] forced them out of office. The Military Council that came into power granted executive powers to [[List_of_Kings_of_Lesotho|King]] [[Moshoeshoe II]], who was until then a ceremonial monarch. In [[1987]], however, the King was forced into exile after a falling out with the army. His son was installed as [[Letsie III of Lesotho|King Letsie III]].