Maseru, Lesotoho – Lesotho and South Africa convened their first formal diplomatic consultations at the senior official level today in Maseru, marking a new chapter in their bilateral relations.
This inaugural session follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on diplomatic consultations between the two countries in November 2021. While this is the first structured meeting under the MoU, Lesotho and South Africa have maintained regular contact through senior official and high-level political consultations on the sidelines of regional and international gatherings. Notably, a Bi-National Commission (BNC) was established during a September 2023 meeting in Pretoria, further solidifying their partnership. Prior to 2021, such consultations took place under the framework of the Joint Bilateral Commission of Cooperation (JBCC), which concluded with the BNC’s formation.
The discussions were led by Mr. Thabang Lekhela, Principal Secretary in Lesotho’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, and Ambassador Tebogo Seokolo, Deputy Director General for Africa in South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation. The specific issues addressed during the consultations remain undisclosed.