Formerly a British Protectorate (from 1868) known as Basutoland, Lesotho became independent on 4 October 1966. Initially under the authoritarian ruler Joseph Leabua Jonathan (1966-86), the country was then subjected to military rule (1986-1993). However, Lesotho began its path towards democracy with elections in 1993, won by the Basutoland Congress Party (BCP). In 1994, King Letsie III, with support from the military, dissolved parliament but was forced to reinstate it after a month due to popular protests and international pressure. The main political parties are the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) and the All Basotho Convention (ABC), which obtained the relative majority at the 2017 elections. As a constitutional monarchy within the Commonwealth, the country has a non-elected Senate comprising 33 members and Legislative Assembly of 120 members elected by direct suffrage for five-year terms. The leader of the majority party is appointed Prime Minister.

The major resources are diamonds and water: a vast system of dams and reservoirs, currently being expanded, ensures that the country is self-sufficient as far as electricity is concerned and at the same time it supplies water to South Africa. Agriculture is at the subsistence level, with widespread sheep farming. The main industries are connected to foodstuffs and clothing. Exports (of diamonds, clothes and mohair wool), customs duties and money sent home by emigrant workers in the mines of South Africa are important for the country’s economy. Levels of social inequality are high.