Mothetjoa Metsing

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Following political tensions and the suspension of parliament over the controversial change of the head of the army from Lieutenant General Kennedy Tlali Kamoli to Lieutenant General Maaparankoe Mahao, an alleged attempted coup d'état forced Thabane to flee the country. He then returned under cover of South African and Namibian police, who guarded him around-the-clock. Under the auspices of the SADC, mediation led by South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa resulted in a call for an early election. Lesotho's King Letsie III set February 28, 2015, as the date for the election. Thabane was backed by the national police[ citation needed ], while his deputy Metsing was backed by the army[ citation needed ], which refused to recognise the change in army leadership.

On June 5, 2017, upon losing the latest round of National elections, Mr. Metsing made the following statement; "The LDF would need to be 'protected' from Prime Minister-elect Thomas Thabane who sealed an agreement yesterday with three other parties to form government.". [7] The former deputy premier said the army needed to be "protected" for their role in propping up the outgoing government. Mr Metsing has been accused of collaborating with the LDF in his political fights, although he and the military have vehemently denied the allegations. ABC leader and former premier Thomas Thabane accused Mr Metsing of helping to plan an LDF raid on three key Maseru police stations on the morning of 30 August 2014 which the former described as a coup attempt. The raid, which left one police officer dead, triggered a chain of unsavoury events that led to the collapse of the Dr Thabane-led coalition government and intervention by the international community in an effort to avert a complete breakdown of the rule of law in Lesotho.

National honours

Foreign honours

References

  1. 1 2 "Profile: Mothetjoa Metsing". mothetjoametsing.co.ls. 2012. Archived from the original on 8 May 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  2. ↑ "Lesotho votes in tight three-way race". Daily Times. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
  3. ↑ "Lesotho: Jumping Before He's Pushed". allAfrica.com. 2012-02-21. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
  4. ↑ "Polls close in Lesotho's general election". Al Jazeera English. 2011-10-04. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
  5. ↑ "Lesotho: Election Results Force Leaders to Moot Coalition". allAfrica.com. 29 May 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  6. ↑ Basildon Peta (2010-05-05). "DC extend lead in Lesotho poll". IOL.co.za. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  7. ↑ "Metsing makes shock army claims". June 9, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Catholic King Letsie III of Lesotho invested into the Constantinian Order". October 8, 2013.
Mothetjoa Metsing
H.E. Mr. Mothetjoa Metsing, Deputy Prime Minister, Kingdom of Lesotho (8008839925) (cropped).jpg
Deputy Prime Minister of Lesotho
In office
8 June 2012 –17 March 2015
Flag of Lesotho.svg
† military     * interim
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