Regional powers try to mediate crisis in Lesotho

(Vatican Radio)  The small African kingdom of Lesotho on Monday was trying to resolve a political crisis after the army surrounded the residence of the Prime Minister and overran the country’s police stations. Lesotho’s Prime Minister Thomas Thabane on Saturday fled to South Africa, which completely surrounds the small kingdom.

The unrest stems from a power struggle between the Prime Minister, who is supported by the police, and the Deputy Prime Minister, who has the loyalty of the army.The Southern African Development Community [SADC] is attempting to mediate, and find a peaceful settlement to the crisis.

“It [SADC] made it clear in the past it will not tolerate the military taking over in any country…so they are going to have to stand by their word,” said Fr. Sean O’Leary, M.Afr., the Director of the Dennis Hurley Peace Institute, which is affiliated with the Southern African Bishops’ Conference.

Listen to the interview with Fr. Sean O'Leary:

Father O’Leary told Vatican Radio the Church also has a role to play in resolving the crisis.

“The Catholic Church in Lesotho is very strong,” he said. “The Church already played a leading role in the negotiations leading up to the June 2012 election, that was the first free and fair election.”

The country has suffered a series of coups since independence in 1966, and still suffers the aftereffects of a 1998 crisis which led to a deadly military intervention by SADC countries.  

However, Father O’Leary said he does not think the current crisis will be that bad.

“I think the Churches and SADC are much stronger, and as we are speaking, they are taking measures to quell this situation,” he said.