Maseru, Lesotho – Her Excellency Ms. Romana Konigsbrun, the Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to the Kingdom of Lesotho, presented her Letters of Credence to His Majesty King Letsie III at the Royal Palace in Maseru on June 15, 2023. Ms. Romana Konigsbrun succeeds His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Johann Brieger in this esteemed position.
The Government of Austria has been a valuable partner to Lesotho, offering technical assistance in various areas. One notable contribution has been the provision of diplomatic training for middle-level officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Austria, renowned for its exceptional diplomatic academies in Europe, has extended its expertise to Lesotho. Additionally, Lesotho students have had the opportunity to train in Austria in fields such as tourism and hotel management.
Lesotho and Austria have enjoyed warm relations since Lesotho gained independence in 1966. In April 2013, His Majesty King Letsie III, accompanied by several ministers, visited Austria, resulting in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU aimed to facilitate cooperation in various sectors, including economy and development, tourism, agriculture, forestry, water and energy, education, culture, and politics.
As one of the six partner countries of Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, Lesotho benefits from ADC’s regional projects. Notable initiatives include Soltrain (Southern African Solar Thermal Training and Demonstration Initiative) and the Energy and Environment Partnership (EEP). Soltrain supports the Bethel Business and Community Development Centre, focusing on long-term training capacity in the field of Technical Vocational Education and quality assurance in the construction of solar systems.
Diplomatic representation between Lesotho and Austria is currently on a non-residential basis. The Ambassador of Austria to Lesotho is based in Pretoria, Republic of South Africa, while the Ambassador of Lesotho to Austria covers Austria from Berlin, Germany.
