Country name
conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho
conventional short form: Lesotho
former: Basutoland

Data code LT

Government type modified constitutional monarchy

National capital Maseru

Administrative divisions 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale'sHoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka

Independence 4 October 1966 (from UK)

National holiday Independence Day, 4 October (1966)

Constitution 2 April 1993

Legal system based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review oflegislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal; has not accepted compulsoryICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch
chief of state : King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996, succeeded to the throne followingthe death of his father, King MOSHOESHOE II, on 16 January 1996); note - KingLETSIE III formerly occupied the throne (November 1990 to February 1995) whilehis father was in exile
head of government: Prime Minister Ntsu MOKHEHLE (since 2 April 1993)
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: none; the king is a hereditary monarch, but, under the terms of theconstitution which came into effect after the March 1993 election, he hasno executive or legislative powers; moreover, under traditional law the kingcan be elected or deposed by a majority vote of the College of Chiefs; followinglegislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats usuallybecomes prime minister

Legislative branch bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (33 members - 22 principalchiefs and 11 other members appointed by the ruling party) and the Assembly(65 seats; members elected for a five-year term by popular vote)
elections: last held 27 March 1993 (next to be held by March 1998)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - BCP 65

Judicial branch High Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or traditionalcourt

Political parties and leaders Basotho National Party or BNP [Evaristus SEKHONYANA]; Basotholand CongressParty or BCP [Ntsu MOKHEHLE]; Marematlou Freedom Party or MFP [Vincent MALEBO];United Democratic Party or UDP [Charles MOFELI]

International organization participation ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,IFC, IFCTU, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC,ITU, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Eunice M. BULANE
chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone : [1] (202) 797-5533 through 5536
FAX: [1] (202) 234-6815

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Bismarck MYRICK
embassy: 254 Kingsway, Maseru West (Consular Section)
mailing address: P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho
telephone: [266] 312666
FAX : [266] 310116

Flag description divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper halfis white, bearing the brown silhouette of a large shield with crossed spearand club; the lower half is a diagonal blue band with a green triangle inthe corner

NOTE: The information regarding Lesotho on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Lesotho Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Lesotho Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.