As I was a few hours into my epic road journey back to Dallas from DC, enjoying a burrito and trying to get anyone to call me to save me from my solo boredom, one of my friends alerted me of an article he saw about a coup in Lesotho. Now that a lot of the initial events have blown over, here's what went down:
On the Peace Corps side, I have been informed that the Lesotho volunteers and staff in Maseru have been temporarily moved to South Africa to avoid any potential violence, but my staging and training are scheduled to go on as normal.
Update: They have been placed back at their sites in Lesotho since the police force has been reinstated and the situation seems to be safe now.
On the Peace Corps side, I have been informed that the Lesotho volunteers and staff in Maseru have been temporarily moved to South Africa to avoid any potential violence, but my staging and training are scheduled to go on as normal.
Update: They have been placed back at their sites in Lesotho since the police force has been reinstated and the situation seems to be safe now.
- In June, Prime Minister Thomas Thabane suspended parliament fearing a vote of no confidence ("A vote of no confidence is a vote in which members of a group are asked to indicate that they do not support the person or group in power, usually the government.") which might oust him from power.
- There was then a power struggle between Thabane (who has the support of the police) and deputy prime minister Mothetjoa Metsing (who has the support of the army). Thabane unsuccessfully tried to remove Army chief Lieutenant General Kamoli.
- On August 30, the military surrounded Thabane's residence in the capital city of Maseru, attacked the police headquarters, and stole weapons from the police. Thabane fled to South Africa, fearing for his life.
- The next day, Metsing assumed responsibility for leading the country in Thabane's absence.
- On September 3, Thabane was escorted by South African guards back into Maseru.
- After the unsuccessful coup, Kamoli hid out in the mountains with about 200 other soldiers and a large stash of weapons. He has since been seen back in Maseru.
- Lesotho's deadlocked political parties failed to meet a September 12 deadline for a peaceful solution to the crisis sparked by the coup attempt, as well as a decision regarding when to reopen parliament.
- This prompted Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa, to call an emergency meeting of regional leaders of the SADC (Southern African Development Community). They are basically acting as mediators, pushing for a peaceful political resolution even when local Lesotho leaders push for military action.
- Kamoli is warning of an imminent "bloodbath" should he be forcibly removed.
- September 15: Since the current coalition government is clearly not functioning as it should, the election currently scheduled for 2017 will be held early, with the election date being announced as soon as possible.
- SADC will send an observation mission for three months. ""They need to go back to the electorate," said the minister, "but they need to be assisted so that political challenges don't get mixed up with the security challenges.""
Thabane:
Kamoli:
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Lesotho_political_crisis
http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Too-risky-to-arrest-Lesotho-coup-leader-report-20140914
http://thisisafrica.me/next-lesotho/
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/01/lesotho-tom-thabane-south-africa
http://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/lesotho-pm-turns-to-zuma-again-1.1750516#.VBenR_mwKU4
http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Lesotho-to-hold-early-vote-to-end-political-crisis-20140916
http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Lesotho-to-hold-early-vote-to-end-political-crisis-20140916
