Lesotho Military 1997

Military branches Lesotho Defense Force (LDF; includes Army and Air Wing), Lesotho MountedPolice

Military manpower - availability
males age 15-49: 468,658 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service
males: 253,025 (1997 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure $NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA%

Disputes - international none

Current issues Years of civil strife have destroyed much of Liberia's economic infrastructure,made civil administration nearly impossible, and brought economic activityvirtually to a halt. The deterioration of economic conditions has been greatlyexacerbated by the flight of most business people with their expertise andcapital. Civil order ended in 1990 when President Samuel Kenyon DOE was killedby rebel forces. In April 1996, when forces loyal to faction leaders CharlesGhankay TAYLOR and Alhaji KROMAH attacked rival ethnic Krahn factions, thefighting further damaged Monrovia's dilapidated infrastructure. Fighting wanedin late May 1996, allowing West African peacekeepers to regain control ofMonrovia. The Abuja II peace accord was signed in August 1996 replacing theChairman of the ruling Council of State, Wilton SANKAWULO, with Ruth PERRY.National elections were scheduled for 30 May 1997, but long-term prospectsfor peace will remain poor unless the warring factions can overcome theirgreed, mutual suspicions and ethnic hatreds.

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 Military 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Lesotho Military 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.