Lesotho, a landlocked kingdom entirely surrounded by South Africa, has a rich and turbulent history marked by resilience and strategic leadership. The region’s earliest known inhabitants were the San people, later supplanted by Bantu-speaking groups, including the ancestors of the Sotho people. In the early 19th century, during a period of regional upheaval known as the Difaqane, Moshoeshoe I emerged as a unifying leader. He established the Basotho nation, defended it against Zulu raids, and secured its autonomy amidst increasing Boer and British pressures. Lesotho’s history is characterized by its strategic alliances, colonial encounters, and the persistent quest for sovereignty, culminating in its independence from British rule in 1966.
Chronological history of Lesotho
Early History
- San/Bushmen Era: The earliest known inhabitants of Lesotho were the San people.
- Arrival of Bantu-Speaking Peoples: Various Bantu-speaking groups, including the ancestors of the Sotho, arrived in the region several centuries prior to European colonization.
19th Century
- 1820: Moshoeshoe I unifies various clans to form the Basotho nation, establishing his stronghold at Thaba Bosiu.
- 1833: French missionaries arrive in Lesotho, initiating the spread of Christianity.
- 1843: Treaty with the Boers of Griqualand.
- 1858: Senekal’s War between Basotho and the Boers.
- 1865-1868: Seqiti War (Free State–Basotho Wars); Moshoeshoe I appeals for British protection.
- 1868: Basutoland becomes a British protectorate.
- 1871: Basutoland is annexed to the Cape Colony.
- 1884: Basutoland is placed under direct British rule after an unsuccessful Cape administration.
20th Century
- 1910: Basutoland remains a British protectorate despite the formation of the Union of South Africa.
- 1960: Basutoland is granted a new constitution, paving the way for internal self-government.
- 1966: Basutoland gains independence as the Kingdom of Lesotho on October 4.
Post-Independence Era
- 1970: Prime Minister Leabua Jonathan suspends the constitution after losing the election.
- 1986: Military coup by Major-General Justin Lekhanya.
- 1990: King Moshoeshoe II is exiled; his son Letsie III becomes king.
- 1991: Lekhanya is deposed, and Colonel Elias Tutsoane Ramaema assumes power.
- 1993: First free elections in 23 years; BCP wins, and Ntsu Mokhehle becomes Prime Minister.
- 1994: King Letsie III stages a coup but is later reinstated with SADC intervention.
- 1996: King Moshoeshoe II dies; Letsie III is reinstated as king.
- 1998: Political unrest leads to SADC military intervention.
- 2002: Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) wins the elections.
21st Century
- 2004: Severe drought leads to food shortages; Lesotho Highlands Water Project begins supplying water to South Africa.
- 2005: First local elections since independence.
- 2017: Tom Thabane becomes Prime Minister after elections.
- 2020: Moeketsi Majoro takes over as Prime Minister.
- 2022: Sam Matekane is elected Prime Minister.
Lesotho’s journey from a unified chiefdom under Moshoeshoe I to a modern independent state reflects its resilience and strategic adaptability. Despite numerous challenges, including wars with the Boers, annexation by the Cape Colony, and political upheavals post-independence, Lesotho has managed to maintain its identity and sovereignty. The nation’s strategic geopolitical decisions, including its appeals for British protection and resistance to incorporation into apartheid South Africa, highlight its commitment to self-determination. Today, Lesotho continues to navigate its unique position as a mountain kingdom, striving for political stability and economic development within the complex dynamics of Southern Africa.
