Lesotho 
 

12 Mar 1868 - 4 Oct 1966   20 Mar 1951 - 30 Apr 1965 Resident Commissioner Flag    20 Mar 1951 - 4 Oct 1966 (Unofficial)   4 Oct 1966 - 20 Jan 1987 20 Jan 1987 - 3 Oct 2006 Adopted 3 Oct 2006  Map of Lesotho  Hear National Anthem "Lesotho fatse la bo ntat'a rona" (Lesotho, Land of Our Fathers)   Text of National Anthem Adopted 1 Jun 1967  (retroactive to 4 Oct 1966)  Constitution (2 Apr 1993) Capital: Maseru (Thaba Bosiu Jul 1824-11 Mar 1869; Butha-Buthe 1822- 1824) Currencies: Loti (LSL) (from 1980); South African Rand (ZAR); 1920-61 South  African Pound (ZAP)  National Holiday: 4 Oct (1966) Independence Day Population: 2,227,548 (2024) GDP: $5.86 billion (2023) Exports: $886.3 million (2023) Imports: $2.1 billion (2023) Ethnic groups: Sotho 80.3%, Zulu 14.4%, white,  Asian, and other 5.3% (2000) Total Active Armed Forces: 2,000 (2010) Merchant marine: None (2023) Religions: Protestant 47.8% (Pentecostal 23.1%, Lesotho Evangelical 17.3%, Anglican 7.4%), Roman Catholic 39.3%, other Christian 9.1%, non-Christian 1.4%, none 2.3% (2014) International Organizations/Treaties: ACP, AfCFTA, AfDB, APM, AU, BTWC, C, CCM, CD, CMA, CTBT, CWC, ESCR, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, ICSID, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISA, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, NPT, OPCW, OST (signatory), SACU, SADC, UN, UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNFCC-KP, UNFCC-PA, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Lesotho Chronology 1822                       Lesotho emerges as a polity. 13 Dec 1843                Recognized by the U.K. 12 Mar 1868                British protectorate (Basutoland). 11 Aug 1871 - 18 Mar 1884  Annexed to Cape Colony (Basutoland territory). 18 Mar 1884                Basutoland colony, separates as one of the                               High Commission Territories (see Botswana). 30 Apr 1965                Autonomy granted (Protectorate of Basutoland).  4 Oct 1966                Independence from Britain (Kingdom of Lesotho                              ['Muso oa Lesotho]). 22 Sep 1998 - 15 May 1999  Occupied by Southern African Development Community                              (SADC) peacekeeping force led by Botswana and                              South Africa.

Paramount chiefs (title Morêna o Moholo oa baSotho)
1822 - 18 Jan 1870         Moshoeshoe I                       (b. c.1786 - d. 1870)
18 Jan 1870 - 20 Nov 1891  Letsie I Moshoeshoe                (b. c.1811 - d. 1891)
20 Nov 1891 - 19 Aug 1905  Lerotholi Letsie                   (b. c.1836 - d. 1905)
21 Aug 1905 - 28 Jan 1913  Letsie II Lerotholi                (b. c.1869 - d. 1913)
11 Apr 1913 - 23 Jun 1939  Nathaniel Griffith Lerotholi       (b. c.1871 - d. 1939)
 3 Aug 1939 - 26 Dec 1940  Simon Seeiso Griffith              (b. 1905 - d. 1940)
26 Dec 1940 - 28 Jan 1941  Gabasane Masopha (acting)          (b. 1903 - d. 1949)
28 Jan 1941 - 12 Mar 1960  'Masntsebo Amelia 'Matsaba         (b. 1902 - d. 1964)
                             Sempe (f) -Regent
12 Mar 1960 -  4 Oct 1966  Moshoeshoe II (Bereg Seeiso)       (b. 1938 - d. 1996)
Kings¹
 4 Oct 1966 - 10 Feb 1970  Moshoeshoe II (1st time)           (s.a.)
                             (in Netherlands exile 31 Mar - 4 Dec 1970)
10 Feb 1970 -  5 Jun 1970  Joseph Leabua Jonathan (Tona-Kholo)(b. 1914 - d. 1987)
 5 Jun 1970 -  5 Dec 1970  Queen 'MaMohato (1st time) -Regent (b. 1941 - d. 2003)
 5 Dec 1970 - 12 Nov 1990  Moshoeshoe II (2nd time)           (s.a.)
                             (in exile from 10 Mar 1990)
10 Mar 1990 - 12 Nov 1990  Queen 'MaMohato (2nd time) -Regent (s.a.)
                             (regent for exiled Moshoeshoe)
12 Nov 1990 - 25 Jan 1995  Letsie III (1st time)              (b. 1963)
25 Jan 1995 - 15 Jan 1996  Moshoeshoe II (3rd time)           (s.a.)
15 Jan 1996 -  7 Feb 1996  Queen 'MaMohato (3rd time) -Regent (s.a.)
 7 Feb 1996 -              Letsie III (2nd time)              (s.a.)

Prime ministers
 6 May 1965 -  7 Jul 1965  Chief Sekhonyana Nehemia           (b. 1918 - d. 1986)  BNP
                             Maseribane 
 7 Jul 1965 - 20 Jan 1986  Chief Joseph Leabua Jonathan       (s.a.)               BNP
Chairmen of the Military Council
24 Jan 1986 -  2 May 1991  Justin Metsing Lekhanya            (b. 1938 - d. 2021)  Mil
 2 May 1991 -  2 Apr 1993  Elias Phisoana Ramaema             (b. 1933 - d. 2015)  Mil
Prime ministers 
 2 Apr 1993 - 17 Aug 1994  Ntsu Clement Mokhehle (1st time)   (b. 1918 - d. 1999)  BCP
17 Aug 1994 - 14 Sep 1994  Hae Edward Phoofolo (interim)      (b. 1947)            Mil
14 Sep 1994 - 29 May 1998  Ntsu Clement Mokhehle (2nd time)   (s.a.)              BCP;1997 LCD
29 May 1998 -  8 Jun 2012  Bethuel Pakalitha Mosisili         (b. 1945)            LCD
                             (1st time)
 8 Jun 2012 - 17 Mar 2015  Tom Motsoahae Thabane (1st time)   (b. 1939)            ABC
                             (in South Africa 30 Aug - 3 Sep 2014)
31 Aug 2014 -  3 Sep 2014  Mothetjoa Metsing                  (b. 1967)            LCD
                             (acting for Thabane)
17 Mar 2015 - 16 Jun 2017  Bethuel Pakalitha Mosisili         (s.a.)               DC
                             (2nd time)
16 Jun 2017 - 20 May 2020  Tom Motsoahae Thabane (2nd time)   (s.a.)               ABC
20 May 2020 - 28 Oct 2022  Moeketsi Majoro                    (b. 1961)            ABC
28 Oct 2022 -              Sam Matekane                       (b. 1958)            RFP

British High Commissioners, Agents
12 Mar 1868 - Apr 1868     Sir Walter Currie                  (b. 1819 - d. 1872)
Apr 1868 - May 1870        James Henry Bowker (acting to 1869)(b. 1822 - d. 1900)
May 1870 - Aug 1871        William Henry Surmon               (b. 1835 - d. 1900)
Cape Colony Government Agents
Aug 1871 - 1877            Charles Duncan Griffith (1st time) (b. 1830 - d. 1906)
1877 -  9 Dec 1877         Emile Samuel Rolland (1st time)    (b. 1836 - d. 1915)
                             (acting)
 9 Dec 1877 - 1878         Charles Duncan Griffith (2nd time) (s.a.)
1878 - 10 Oct 1878         Emile Samuel Rolland (2nd time)    (s.a.)
                             (acting)
10 Oct 1878 - 25 Aug 1881  Charles Duncan Griffith (3rd time) (s.a.)
25 Aug 1881 - 16 Mar 1883  Joseph Millerd Orpen (acting)      (b. 1828 - d. 1923)
17 Mar 1883 -  8 Apr 1884  Matthew Smith Blyth (acting)       (b. 1835 - d. 1889)
Governors
1878 - 31 Jul 1964         the High Commissioners for South Africa
British Resident Commissioners, Basutoland
(subordinated to the High Commissioner for South Africa to 3 Oct 1963)
 8 Apr 1884 - 17 Mar 1893  Marshal James Clarke               (b. 1841 - d. 1909)
                             (from 29 May 1886, Sir Marshal James Clarke)
17 Mar 1893 - 1895         Godfrey Yeatsman Lagden (1st time) (b. 1851 - d. 1934)
                             (acting to 18 Sep 1894)
1895                       Herbert Cecil Sloley (1st time)    (b. 1855 - d. 1937)
                             (acting)
1895 - 1901                Godfrey Yeatsman Lagden (2nd time) (s.a.) 
                             (from 22 Jun 1897, Sir Godfrey Yeatman Lagden) 
1901 - 1913                Herbert Cecil Sloley (2nd time)    (s.a.)
                             (from 19 Jun 1911, Sir Herbert Cecil Sloley)
                             (acting to 1902)
1913                       James MacGregor (1st time)(acting) (b. 1861 - d. 1935)
1913 - 12 Jan 1916         Sir Herbert Cecil Sloley (3rd time)(s.a.)
13 Jan 1916 - Nov 1917     Robert Thorne Coryndon             (b. 1870 - d. 1925)
Nov 1917 - 15 Dec 1917     James MacGregor (2nd time)(acting) (s.a.)
15 Dec 1917 - 19 Apr 1926  Edward Charles Frederick Garraway  (b. 1865 - d. 1932)
                             (from 3 Jun 1922, Sir Edward Charles Frederick Garraway)   
Apr 1926 - Mar 1935        John Christian Ramsay Sturrock     (b. 1875 - d. 1937)
                             (from 4 Jun 1934, Sir John Christian Ramsay Sturrock) 
Mar 1935 - Aug 1942        Edmund Charles Smith Richards      (b. 1889 - d. 1955)
                             (from 1 Jan 1941, Sir Edmund Charles Richards)
Aug 1942 - Nov 1946        Charles Nobel Arden Clarke         (b. 1898 - d. 1962)
Nov 1946 - 24 Oct 1951     Aubrey Denzil Forsyth-Thompson     (b. 1897 - d. 1982)
24 Oct 1951 - Sep 1956     Edwin Porter Arrowsmith            (b. 1909 - d. 1992)
 1 Sep 1956 - Feb 1962     Alan Geoffrey Tunstal Chaplin      (b. 1908 - d. 1967)
 1 May 1962 - 30 Apr 1965  Alexander Falconer Giles           (b. 1915 - d. 1989)
                            (from 1 Jan 1965, Sir Alexander Falconer Giles)  
British Government Representative Basutoland
30 Apr 1965 -  4 Oct 1966  Sir Alexander Falconer Giles       (s.a.)

Commander of Southern African Development Community Forces
22 Sep 1998 - 15 May 1999  Robbie Hartslief (South Africa)    (b. 1957 - d. 2006)

 ¹Full style of the ruler: Morêna o Moholo oa Lesotho ("King of Lesotho") with the title Motlotlehi.

Territorial Dispute: South Africa has placed military units to assist police operations along the border of Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to control smuggling, poaching, and illegal migration.

Party abbreviations: ABC = All Basotho Convention (liberal, centrist, split from LCD, est.Oct 2006); BCP = Basutoland Congress Party (nationalist, pan-Africanist, socialist, named Basutoland African Congress 1952-57, est.1952); BNP = Basotho National Party (populist, nationalist, conservative, est.1959); DC = Democratic Congress (pan-Africanist, social-democratic, split from LCD, est.2012); LCD = Lesotho Congress for Democracy (pan-Africanist, social-democratic, split from BCP, est.1997); RFP = Revolution for Prosperity (social liberal, populist, centrist, est.22 Mar 2022); Mil = Military