Maseru, Lesotho – The newly appointed Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of Lesotho in Kigali, Rwanda, Dr. Momar Dieng, is currently undertaking a familiarization visit to Lesotho. As part of his official duties, Dr. Dieng recently paid a Courtesy Call on The Rt. Honourable the Prime Minister, Mr. Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane, and the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Mr. Lejone Mpotjoana. During his visit, the Honorary Consul is also expected to meet with His Majesty King Letsie III and hold meetings with various government departments and agencies.
Rwanda, a unitary Presidential Republic, serves as an important partner to Lesotho. The country gained independence from Belgium on July 1, 1962, but sadly faced a dark period in its history during the Rwandan Civil War, when a devastating genocide took place between April and July 1994, affecting the Tutsi and Hutu tribes.
Despite the challenges faced by both nations, Lesotho and Rwanda maintain a strong bond and share membership in various Continental and International Organizations, including the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU), the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP), the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), and the Commonwealth. Together, they continue to support each other on matters of mutual concern.
Formal diplomatic relations between Rwanda and Lesotho were established in 1983. Since then, the two countries have engaged in numerous consultations and exchanged technical working visits on various programs. These collaborations have encompassed crucial areas such as public service reforms, decentralization, information and communications technology, as well as efforts to combat corruption.
