LESOTHO was on the right track in its developmental efforts until the devastation caused by political riots in 1998, United Nations General Assembly president Harri Holkeri, said in Maseru on Tuesday. Holkeri, formerly Prime Minister of Finland, paid a two day official visit to Lesotho after three days at the World Conference Against Racism in Durban. In an interview he said that up to 1998 Lesotho had had the capability to emerge from the category of the world’s least developed countries (LDC’s). Then came the destabilising events of 1998. There were widespread allegations of cheating during the 1998 elections were held in 1998 and tensions became acute. The military was also split. In late September that year, Lesotho called on the Southern African Development Community to help restore order. South African troops entered the kingdom and rebel elements of the Lesotho army put up strong resistance. There was heavy fighting in Maseru. ”One of the priorities of the UN system at present was to assist the LDCs including Lesotho to come out of the LDC classification. ”There are 48 countries around the world which have been designed by the United Nations as least developed countries.” – Sapa
Tuesday September 4, 2001
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