|RConstitution:|N Constitutional monarchy, military regime. Member of Commonwealth of Nations.
|RNational holiday:|N October 4.
|RNature and climate:|N Highly located mountain and plateau land completely surrounded by the South African Republic. The western part is a plateau at 1500 m.a.s.l. crossed by several rivers in deep valleys. In the east the Drakensberg mountainchain which reaches 3500 m.a.s.l. as most.
Average temperature in January between 17 and 20°C and in July between 5 and 8°C.
Percipitation between 500 and 800 mm.
|RPeople:|N 99% belong to the Bantu-tribe Sotho. There are some Europeans and a few Zulues and Asians.
The eastern mountainous parts are very sparsely populated, while the western, fertile plains are very densely populated with more than 200 inhabitants per km².
|REconomy:|N The most important resources are the human workers, water and the beautiful landscape.
25% of the labour force is working in South African mines and the money they send home accounts for 40% of GDP.
Agriculture occupies 40% of the labour force working within Lesotho, but due to primitive tools and methods food production does not cover the needs. Most important crops are maize, wheat, durra, pies, beans and barley.
Stockraising is the most important industry, but the cattle is not for food. It produces wool and mohair which accounts for 30% of the export revenues. Lesotho have vast natural pastures that could feed more cattle than today.
Lesotho have diamonds, giving the most export revenues, and uranium.
Some hydroelectric power is extracted and some of it is exported to the South African Republic.
Manufacturing only accounts for 4% of GDP and produces food and simple household goods.
|RHistory:|N Originally inhabited by Bushmen Lesotho in the early 19th century was invaded by different Bechuana-tribes, foremost Sotho. The realm they founded could for a long time resist the Boer raids and advance in South Africa, but in the end they were forced to ask for British protection and Lesotho, in 1868, became a British protectorate with the name Basutoland.
It was an independent monarchy in 1966 with Moshoeshoe II as king and the conservative Leabua Jonathan as prime minister.
Jonathan refused to recognize the results of the first general elections in 1970, seized all powers himself and made the king a figure head. At first Jonathan carried out a friendly policy towards South Africa, but turned an Lesotho became a resort for the South African liberation armies. South Africa in turn let the Lesotho liberation army operate from South African territory.
By January 1986 South Africa set up a total blockade against Lesotho, which within three weeks resulted in a military coup that ousted Jonathan and a military council seized powers. The authority of the king was expanded and after negotiations with South Africa the blockade was stopped. Lesotho had to throw out a great number of members from the South African liberation armies.
King Moshoeshoe was in 1990 ousted and sent abroad by the military council, and succeeded by Letsie III.
