Lesotho gets top SADC post

Mohloai Mpesi

IN what is clearly a remarkable change of fortunes, Lesotho, which for long has been the Southern African Development Community (SADC)’s poster child of trouble, has been elevated to the incoming chair of the regional body’s all-important Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

Foreign Affairs and International Relations Minister, Limpho Tau, says the appointment reflects the region’s confidence in the country’s political tranquility, urging Basotho to celebrate the milestone irrespective of their political colours.

Prime Minister Sam Matekane was elected to the position during an Extraordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government held virtually yesterday, ending a deadlock between Lesotho and Angola that had delayed the appointment since August 2026.

The summit was chaired by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who confirmed Mr Matekane’s election, completing the three-member Organ Troika alongside current chairperson, King Mswati III of Eswatini, and outgoing chairperson, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika of Malawi.

In his remarks during the summit, Mr Ramaphosa thanked Angola for enabling the summit to reach a conclusion. He urged member states to continue working together to build lasting peace in the region.

“The election of the Incoming Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation is equally important,” Mr Ramaphosa said.

“Peace, security and political stability are, in the end, the very basis on which the development and prosperity of our region are built. Our organisation has a proud history of solidarity, cooperation and collective action in the pursuit of peace and security.

“We have shown that when we work together we can, indeed, help to resolve disputes, strengthen democratic governance and set up the conditions for sustainable development. And yet a lot of work is still to be done.

“The ongoing instability and humanitarian suffering in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo require our continued attention as a community, and we must work together to achieve a peaceful solution. We will continue to support the African Union and other regional and international partners to put an end to conflict and create the conditions for lasting peace.

“We need to continue to support inclusive dialogue, political stability and institutional reform in Madagascar, and the return to constitutional normality. In Mozambique we recognise the continued efforts to promote peace, security and development as well as steps to combat terrorism in Cabo Delgado.

“These examples show that peace does not come easily. Peace must be nurtured, institutions must be strengthened and the legitimate aspirations of our people must be addressed.”

Speaking from Germany yesterday where he is attending the Berlin Global Conference, Mr Tau said Lesotho’s elevation to the regional security leadership, barely a year after it was removed from SADC’s agenda, demonstrated that member states trusted the country to help resolve political and security challenges elsewhere in the region.

“This is an honour for Basotho because it comes after we were placed under the SADC agenda in 2014 until last year, 2025. This is a victory for all Basotho irrespective of political affiliation. We should celebrate as a nation,” Mr Tau said.

He added: “For Lesotho to be trusted so quickly after leaving the SADC agenda is a vote of confidence by the region, so much that we can be trusted to resolve problems of other nations in the region.

“It means Lesotho has reached political stability to the extent that we can be trusted to help resolve the political problems of other nations, as the troika works on issues relating to politics, defence and security.”

Lesotho will assume the chairmanship by rotation in 2027/28 and serve as outgoing chair in 2028/29, giving it three consecutive years in the Organ Troika.

The Organ is responsible for promoting peace and security among SADC’s 16 member states. It provides political direction on regional matters, including mediation, conflict resolution and security cooperation.

The tough journey

Mr Tau said securing the position had required sustained negotiations after both Lesotho and Angola expressed interest in becoming incoming chairperson.

Lesotho declared its interest in March this year, while Angola lodged a competing bid in June. The two countries failed to reach an agreement at the 46th SADC Ordinary Summit in Durban in August, forcing leaders to defer the decision.

The summit directed the two countries to negotiate, with the SADC Secretariat facilitating discussions.

“It has not been an easy route because when we expressed our interest, Angola also expressed its interest. Both countries were not willing to yield to each other.

“The Summit directed that we should go back and negotiate, and that the Secretariat should facilitate discussions between the two countries.

“I had a lot of engagements with Minister Téte António of Angola, facilitated by the Secretariat, until I convinced them and Angola yielded,” he said.

Mr Tau said the position should not be treated as a competition between countries but allocated according to the principles of equality and rotation.

“My argument was that these seats are not competed for but allocated on the basis of two factors: equal treatment of members irrespective of size, economy or military might, and rotation.

“All members must enjoy equal access to the responsibilities in SADC, unless they are under sanctions or observation,” he said.

From instability to regional responsibility

Lesotho’s appointment follows more than a decade of political and security difficulties that placed the country under regional scrutiny.

The country came under the SADC Organ’s agenda in 2014 following an attempted military coup in August that year which saw ex- premier Thomas Thabane flee to South Africa. He was only to return under the protection of South African security forces.   The situation deteriorated further after the June 2015 killing of former army commander Lieutenant General Maaparankoe Mahao, prompting SADC to establish the Phumaphi Commission of Inquiry.

In September 2017, then army commander Lieutenant General Khoantle Motšomotšo was shot dead by fellow soldiers. By then Lesotho had become a byword for chaos and instability. SADC subsequently deployed its Preventive Mission in Lesotho (SAPMIL) between late 2017 and 2018 to stabilize the country following the assassination of Lt-Gen Motšomotšo.

Lesotho was finally removed from the Organ’s agenda at the 45th SADC Summit in Antananarivo, Madagascar, in August 2025, following what the regional bloc described as positive progress in the country’s political and security situation.

The decision came days after Parliament passed the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution Act, 2025,  as part of sweeping reforms recommended by SADC to foster peace and stability in the troubled Kingdom. Even though the reforms have dragged for a decade now and are yet to be fully completed, Lesotho’s appointment to a key regional post marks a remarkable turn of fortunes for a country that has for long been regarded as the poster child of instability.

Even though SADC faces persistent accusations of being ineffectual in intervening decisively to resolve problems in its member states, it tries to safeguard its reputation by ensuring that it excludes its troubled members from assuming leadership roles in its structures.

Mr Tau said the appointment was also in recognition of Lesotho’s contribution to regional security, including the deployment of Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) troops to Mozambique.

The LDF deployed to Nangade District in Cabo Delgado Province in 2021 as part of the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM), which was established to help contain an insurgency by Islamic State-linked militants. Three Basotho soldiers died during the mission, which wound down in 2024.

“While we were under SADC observation, we were already helping to solve the problems of other countries, like sending troops to Mozambique,” Mr Tau said.

He said the performance of Lesotho’s soldiers in Mozambique had demonstrated the country’s contribution to regional peace and security.

Regional challenges and benefits

Mr Tau said Lesotho would join regional efforts to address continuing conflicts in Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Madagascar has been under military rule since October 2025, when Colonel Michael Randrianirina took power following the ousting of President Andry Rajoelina. SADC has deployed a Panel of Elders led by former Malawian president Joyce Banda to engage with the situation.

In eastern DRC, fighting and displacement continue to raise humanitarian concerns.

“We still have two major issues in the SADC region: Madagascar, which is still under a military regime, and the DRC. It is an honour that we will be participating in resolving the problems of countries that are bigger than us in economy and size,” Mr Tau said.

He also attributed Lesotho’s progress to government measures against famo-related violence, saying the region assessed security beyond the performance of the police and military to include conditions experienced by ordinary citizens.

The government banned famo groups in May 2024, while Prime Minister Matekane has described them as terrorist organisations. However, numerous reports of gun violence in parts of the country indicate that the problem has not been entirely eradicated.

Mr Tau said the chairmanship would also bring economic and institutional benefits to Lesotho.

“Next year when we are chair, all the troika meetings will be held in Lesotho. This means the hospitality industry of Lesotho will benefit,” he said.

He added the SADC’s training programmes for public servants on politics, defence and security would strengthen local expertise.

The minister said the government would decide after Lesotho’s tenure in the Troika whether to seek the full SADC chairmanship.

Meanwhile, the extraordinary summit urged member states to strengthen disaster preparedness and coordination ahead of the 2026/27 El Niño and cyclone season, amid concerns about its potential humanitarian consequences across Southern Africa.

The summit also approved the appointment of Eswatini’s Treasure Thembisile Maphanga as SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration, succeeding Angèle Makombo N’Tumba, whose contract ends on 26 October 2026.

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