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Subsequent to the Association’s mission, in keeping with the provisions of the Maseru Facilitation Declaration, the Kingdom of Lesotho held early National Assembly Elections on February 28, 2015. International observers were deployed across the country by the African Union, the Commonwealth of Nations and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Observers deemed the elections to have been generally well organized and implemented in an atmosphere of peace, order and security. The SADC Electoral Observation Mission concluded that the elections were, “peaceful, transparent, credible, free and fair, thus reflecting the will of the people of the Kingdom of Lesotho.” Although no party won an outright majority, the opposition Democratic Congress party managed to form a governing coalition with six smaller parties. Pakalitha Mosisili was sworn in as Lesotho’s new Prime Minister on March 17, 2015. Following the elections, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon congratulated the people of Lesotho, the Independent Electoral Commission and SADC for their efforts to bring about a peaceful resolution of Lesotho’s political challenges. The Secretary General added that, “The successful completion of this process will be an important step in Lesotho’s return to political normalcy.” The Association associates itself with this statement, and points to several issues raised in this report that it believes will, if properly addressed, assist towards the consolidation of Lesotho’s peace and stability, and the strengthening of its democracy. |
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