ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – Basotho living and working in Ethiopia gathered over the weekend to commemorate 57 years of independence for the Kingdom of Lesotho. The celebrations were joined by Habesha people working for the Lesotho Embassy, as well as friends from other Southern African countries.
The event also served as an opportunity to acknowledge the launch of the road to 200 years of the existence of the Basotho Nation, a milestone that was recently announced by His Majesty King Letsie III.
The Dean of the Basotho Diaspora in Ethiopia, Mrs. Keiso Matashane-Marite, congratulated fellow Basotho on this important anniversary. She also encouraged enhanced information sharing and nation branding as Lesotho gears up for the main celebration in 2024.
In her remarks, H.E. Ntšiuoa Sekete, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Lesotho to Ethiopia, commended Basotho for their continued spirit of unity, patriotism, and impeccable representation of Lesotho in Addis Ababa, Africa’s diplomacy hub.
Ambassador Sekete challenged the diaspora to reflect on the nation’s gains and achievements since independence. She also urged them to work towards building a lasting legacy, tapping on the relations and lessons gained from the Ethiopian Diaspora, which is one of the most successful and effective establishments in the socio-economic development of Ethiopia.
There are over 30 Basotho living in Ethiopia. Some are students, while others work for the African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN), or in the education and telecommunications sectors.
