To project, promote and protect Lesotho’s interests and image globally through innovative diplomacy, and contribute towards a just, peaceful and equitable world.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations is responsible for promoting and effectively representing Lesotho internationally, in order to attain sustainable development for the benefit of Basotho.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was established immediately after the political independence of Lesotho in 1966. Lesotho became independent at a time of significant global, regional and sub-regional uncertainties and instabilities. These uncertainties are due to: first, the politics of the Cold War and the competing interests of the super-powers which divided the globe into two rival ideological blocs, raising a serious prospect of nuclear military confrontation. Second, the social and political fluidity in the developing world, caused by the wars of decolonisation and the unconstitutional changes of government, particularly in Africa, were marked by military coups and wide-spread dictatorships. And third, the social, economic and military overtures posed by the system of Apartheid threatened the development, stability and independence of the states neighbouring South Africa, like Lesotho.
As a country which has only the Republic of South Africa as its neighbour, Lesotho relied heavily on the support of the international community and therefore placed great value on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an instrument of her policy to mobilise the necessary economic and political support from the international community and to ensure her survival as an independent sovereign state.
From the humble beginnings of two diplomatic missions abroad, understandably, one in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the other at the seat of the United Nations in New York, USA; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has, today, grown significantly in coverage, to a total of twenty (15) Missions abroad, including four (4) Consulates.
The Missions are located in the areas and countries that have strategic partnerships with Lesotho. However due to limitations of resources, the Ministry has not been able to establish Missions in all countries where it would have desired to do so.
At inception, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was concerned primarily with political issues, specifically aimed at ensuring the survival of Lesotho amid a volatile and uncertain security environment, particularly in the Southern Africa Region. However, following the end of the Cold War and the demise of Apartheid in the early 1990s, the key objectives and focus of the Ministry underwent fundamental overhaul, placing more emphasis on trade facilitation and mobilization of resources for economic development, including Official Development Assistance, Foreign Direct Investment, negotiation of economic partnerships, facilitation of employment of Basotho in International Organisations and procurement of placements for Lesotho Citizens in academic institutions of friendly foreign countries.
It is because of this fundamental change of focus that in 2007, the name of the Ministry was officially changed to “the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations”. This was to take into account the expanded mandate of the ministry which was no longer limited to political issues but covered a wider spectrum of Lesotho’s national interests.
Since 2007, it will be noted again that the two greatest challenges facing the Ministry have been those of resource constraints and the need to professionalise the Foreign Service, to equip the staff with the necessary skills they require to deliver on the diverse objectives and responsibilities of the Ministry. Over time, the ministry has continued to grow significantly in terms of staff complement, scope of activities and therefore logistical and resource requirements.