Lesotho: Defence Minister, Army Boss Clash

18 September 2019

By Pascalinah Kabi

Ministers and their deputies were left without army guards l week after army commander, Lieutenant General Mojalefa Letsoela, summoned all soldiers in Maseru to an urgent "commander's mass parade" to diffuse simmering tensions within the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) over salary increments.

The commander's mass parade was held on Tuesday at Makoanyane Barracks, allegedly without the knowledge of Defence and National Security Minister, Tefo Mapesela. Yesterday, Mr Mapesela was seething with anger and accused Lt-Gen Letsoela of causing panic among cabinet ministers after the sudden withdrawal of their guards without prior notice. He described Lt-Gen Letsoela's alleged failure to inform him about the army's salary grievances and the mass parade as "a revolt against civilian authority".

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