Lesotho

The Kingdom of Lesotho is an enclave located entirely within the Republic of South Africa. It is roughly the size of Maryland and has a population of about 1.8 million people. Nearly all of Lesotho lies above 5,000 feet (1,500M) and the country features Africa's highest mountain south of Kilimanjaro, Thabana Ntlenyana, at 11,400 feet (3,500M), as well as one of Africa's only ski resorts. Facilities for tourism are expanding. The capital city of Maseru provides shopping, dining and entertainment options, and Lesotho’s countryside offers an array of outdoor activities, including off-roading, mountain biking, horseback riding, and hiking. Lesotho is a constitutional monarchy currently ruled by a fragile three party coalition. Disputes among coalition members have led to disagreement about who leads the Lesotho Defense Forces and created a climate of political uncertainty. In late August, the army clashed with police and the Prime Minister and other officials briefly fled the country. The political leadership has now returned and, with facilitation support from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) announced plans to hold early elections in February 2015. While this latest unrest has had a minimal impact on daily life in Lesotho, it demands that visitors pay close attention to new developments. Lesotho’s growing economy principally exports textiles, electricity, diamonds, and water. Read the Department of State’s Fact Sheet on Lesotho for additional information on U.S.-Lesotho relations.