Lesotho, a small landlocked kingdom entirely surrounded by South Africa, emerged as a nation state under paramount chief Moshoeshoe I in 1822 - one of Africa's few monarchs never fully defeated by the colonial powers. The territory was recognised by Britain in 1843 and given the status of a protectorate (as Basutoland) in 1868 to check the advance of South Africa's Boer trekkers.

While Moshoeshoe was able to keep his enemies at bay, the future stability of modern-day Lesotho is threatened by a humanitarian emergency that combines HIV/AIDS with chronic food shortages: only 10 percent of the mountainous country is fit for cultivation, and it has one of the world's highest HIV infection rates.

South Africa is an economic lifeline, and has historically been a key employer of Lesotho workers, but the downside has been the number returning home HIV-positive, and the country's vulnerability to retrenchment from South Africa's mining sector.

Peace and security
The Lesotho Defence Force has a history of intervening in political affairs, but has remained under civilian control since a mutiny in 1998 was suppressed by troops from South Africa and Botswana. The intervention to restore the democratically elected government was endorsed by the Southern African Development Community (SADC). In the chaos and looting that followed the coup attempt, much of the capital, Maseru, was destroyed.

Refugees
The country has no displaced persons or refugees.

Democracy and governance
Multiparty elections were held in 1998, culminating in a landslide victory for the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) of Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili. The opposition alleged rigging and, in the mounting political tension, junior members of the defence force mutinied. After the controversial military intervention by South African and Botswana - SADC endorsement appeared to follow the fact, and the conduct of South African soldiers was strongly criticised - SADC and the Commonwealth worked closely to resolve Lesotho's political divisions.

An Interim Political Authority (IPA) to review the electoral system was created in December 1998. The IPA devised a proportional representation system, and in 2002 the LCD won peaceful elections with 54 percent of the vote. Mosisili is the current Prime Minister, and the next election is scheduled for May 2007.

Media

Several independent newspapers operate freely, routinely criticising the government. State-owned print publications and broadcasters reflect the views of the ruling party. Lesotho has one AM radio and one television station, and two FM radio stations. There are about 45,000 internet users nationwide.

Economy

Officially, 31 percent of Basotho are unemployed, although independent estimates suggest the figure is higher; 23,000 Basotho men have been retrenched from South African mines since 2002. The garment industry, which sprung up to take advantage of preferential access to the US market, has typically provided low-wage employment to Basotho women but shed 15,000 jobs in 2005, squeezed by competition from high-volume Asian producers.

The economy is largely based on agriculture, and a majority of the population is dependant on rain-fed subsistence agriculture, with output declining in recent years due to successive droughts. Maize is the staple food.

The Lesotho Highlands Water Project has profitably sold one of the country's abundant resources, water, to South Africa since 1998.

Population

The UNDP's www.undp.org.ls 2006 Human Development Index, factoring in HIV/AIDS deaths, estimates Lesotho's population at 1.8 million, which is projected to drop to 1.7 million in 2015 - demographic proof of the extent of the crisis.

The percentage of the population under the age of 15 stands at 39 percent, and older than 65 at 5.2 percent, but by 2015 youth under 15 are projected to decrease to 36.6 percent and the elderly over 65 to increase to 5.8 percent, again as a result of HIV/AIDS.

Development indicators

At birth, the Basotho face a 67 percent probability of not living to age 40. The population growth rate is now declining by about a half a percentage point annually.

Despite the country's abundant water sources, clean and sustained water supplies cannot be accessed by 21 percent of the population. An estimated 49 percent of Basotho live in poverty; infant mortality stands at 61 per 1,000 births, and there are only five doctors serving every 100,000 people. Combined private and public health expenditure amounts to 5.2 percent of GDP.

Education

Literacy rates, as defined by the percentage of people aged 15 and above who can read and write, are 82.2 percent. Government policy is to achieve universal primary education and improve access to early secondary education. Education is compulsory between the ages of six and 13, with school fee elimination to be implemented in phases.

Children

UNICEF reports that 70,000 children are AIDS orphans. About 22,000 children are HIV-positive, but only 857 are receiving treatment.

Health

The main opportunistic infection in HIV-positive people is tuberculosis (TB) and Lesotho's high HIV infection rate means a high TB caseload. However, 83 percent of infants have been immunised against TB, and 70 percent against measles. About 66 percent of births are attended by skilled healthcare professionals. The number of undernourished people has declined from 17 to 12 percent from the early 1990s to this decade, as a result of food assistance flowing into the country in the wake of the humanitarian crisis.

HIV/AIDS

Lesotho has an HIV prevalence rate of 23 percent - the third highest in the world. More than 30,000 deaths annually are attributed to AIDS. The government has tried to respond to the challenge with a treatment programme and plans for routine testing, but its efforts are undermined by shortages of health professionals.

Food security

A UNICEF survey estimated that the number of people in need of emergency food aid rose from 448,000 to 700,000 between 2002 and 2004, as the effects of drought and HIV/AIDS took hold. Today, WFP says one-third of the population, about 700,000, still requires food assistance.

Drought has caused overgrazing in marginal areas, resulting in severe soil exhaustion and erosion, with desertification in some areas, which all undermine food security.

Gender issues

The constitution bars gender-based discrimination, but customary practices restrict women's rights. Of 120 parliamentary seats, only 13 are held by women.

Human rights

Lesotho scores well on human rights issues. Constitutional reforms are also credited with creating the political stability needed for human rights to flourish.

The country is a signatory to all major international human rights accords.

Humanitarian needs

WFP / FAO reports that 548,000 people suffered significant food deficiencies from June 2005 to March 2006. The food aid agencies will continue to mount emergency interventions to forestall widespread hunger, but are at the mercy of international funding.

CREDIT : IRIN - United Nations Office – Humanitarian Country Profile