Lesotho Kopanong, or the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a small landlocked country located in southern Africa. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, east and west, and by the independent mountain kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) to the north. Lesotho is the only country in the world that lies entirely above 1,000 meters in elevation, and is often referred to as the “Kingdom in the Sky” or “Roof of Africa”.
The history of the Kingdom of Lesotho dates back to the mid-1800s, when the area was inhabited by the Sotho people. The Sotho people were a pastoralist group who had migrated to the area from the east in the 1600s. They were divided into several chiefdoms, each ruled by its own ruler.
In 1822, Moshoeshoe I became the paramount chief of the Sotho people and established the kingdom of Lesotho. He was a skilled diplomat and was able to negotiate agreements with the Boers, who had recently arrived in the area, and the British, who were expanding their colonial empire in southern Africa. Moshoeshoe I was able to secure Lesotho’s independence from the Boers and the British, and the kingdom of Lesotho was officially established in 1868.
Moshoeshoe I was succeeded by his son, Letsie I, who was crowned king in 1891. Under Letsie I, Lesotho experienced a period of relative stability and economic growth. This period was interrupted by the Second Boer War, which lasted from 1899 to 1902. During this war, Lesotho sided with the British, and the Boers were defeated.
In the early 1900s, Lesotho was ruled by a series of kings, including Letsie II, Letsie III and Moshoeshoe II. During this period, Lesotho experienced a period of economic prosperity and political stability. However, in the 1960s, the country was shaken by a series of coups and civil wars. In 1966, the Prime Minister, Chief Leabua Jonathan, declared a state of emergency and suspended the constitution. This state of emergency lasted until 1986, when a new constitution was adopted and a democratic government was established.
Since the late 1980s, Lesotho has experienced a period of relative stability and economic growth. The country has been a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) since its inception in 1992, and is a signatory to the African Union. The country is also a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Today, Lesotho is a constitutional monarchy, with King Letsie III as its head of state. The country is divided into 10 districts, each of which is governed by a district administrator. The capital of Lesotho is Maseru, and the official language is Sesotho. The country has a population of around 2.2 million people, and is one of the world’s least developed countries. Despite its challenges, Lesotho remains a vibrant and unique country with a rich history and culture.