The Role of the Military in the Political Conflict in Lesotho

The central argument in this book is that the active involvement of the military in the 1998 political conflict in Lesotho was due to lack of professionalism within the military establishment. The ever-deepening divisions within the military resulted from the unwavering desire by authoritarian regimes in Lesotho to use it as a reliable tool to enforce obedience and respect for dictatorial rule between 1970 and 1986. The support of the military has, among others, been maintained through nepotism, corruption, force empowerment and foreign military intervention. The book also emphasizes the important role which has been played by the military to overthrow Leabua Jonathan s sixteen year (16) dictatorship in 1986 thus facilitating the transformation of the country from authoritarian to civilian rule in 1993.