Sunday, April 19, 2020

Prime Minister Thomas Thabane and The Crisis in Lesotho


Lesotho appeared to be on the verge of another coup. Prime Minister Thomas Thabane has become a controversial figure, with his wife accused of murder of his ex-wife Lipoleo Thabane. The Southern African country has struggled with military coup's since it independence in 1966. This is not the first time Thomas Thabane served as  prime minister. He served between 2012 to 2015 and fled to South Africa when he thought his life was in danger. So far, it appears that Prime Minister Thabane is seeking immunity for himself and his wife related to the murder Lipoleo. It is possible that he could be removed from power by means of a snap election. If Prime Minister Thabane is to be removed from office it should be done by democratic means instead of extralegal means. The army was deployed on to the streets according to the government as a means of restoring order. The constitutional court rejected a plan to suspend parliament. There have been calls on Thabane to resign, but he has resisted these demands. If Lesotho becomes unstable it could generate a South African response. These two countries are closely connected both economically and politically. Thomas Thabane still remains head of the All Basotho Convention and if he remains some level of South African support he will have considerable protection.    

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