Lesotho: ‘Coup’ Threatens Lesotho's future as deputy premier takes charge

By Staff Writer

An attempt on the life of a top military commander plunged Lesotho into further turmoil on Sunday August 31, following an apparent coup that forced the prime minister to flee to neighbouring South Africa. 

Gunmen attacked the Maseru home of Lieutenant General Maaparankoe Mahao at dawn on Saturday, but were unsuccessful, managing to only kill a dog, district police commissioner Mofokeng Kolo confirmed, deepening a seeming battle for control of the military.

Mahao had been appointed head of the Lesotho Defence Force by Prime Minister Thomas Thabane shortly before he was forced to flee to South Africa in the early hours of Saturday.

The prime minister accused his Deputy Mothetjoa Metsing of helping to plan a coup by the army that forced him to flee the country.

Metsing took charge of the government once Thabane had fled to the neighbouring South Africa.

 Thabane left on Saturday, after the army surrounded his residence and police stations in Lesotho's capital, Maseru.

Gunshots were heard in Maseru on Saturday, where a policeman was shot dead and four others wounded, said Kolo.

Previous commander, Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli was accused of leading a coup attempt against Thabane, a charge the military denies.

"I haven't gotten any formal letter from anybody and that is to say that I am still the commander of the Lesotho Defence Force," said Kamoli.

But the army has denied trying to force out Thabane, saying it had moved against police suspected of planning to arm a political faction in the small southern African kingdom.

Diplomats in Maseru told the media that the army was largely seen as loyal to the deputy prime minister and the police force mostly supported the prime minister.

Meanwhile, regional power South Africa condemned the army's actions and invited the deputy prime minister to talks there on Sunday, said Lesotho's Minister of Communications, Science and Technology, Selibe Mochoboroane.

However, he did not specify who the talks would be with, but said in the absence of the prime minister, the deputy prime minister takes the reins, and in case they are both out, the Minister of Public Service, Motloheloa Phooko is in charge of the kingdom, said Mochoboroane, who is also spokesman for Metsing's party.

"It is through the invitation of the South African president," who currently heads regional bloc the Southern African Development Community's security committee (SADC), Metsing said.

"There is no coup in Lesotho," he insisted.

Phooko is a member of Metsing's Lesotho Congress for Democracy party (LCDP), which was in an uneasy coalition government with Thabane.

The party has also denied allegations of involvement in the coup.

Fractious coalition, Thabane, who expected to be back in Maseru in two days time, said he believed his deputy was behind the plans for a coup. The two would not be holding talks in South Africa, he said.

"I have no much reason to absolve him from blame," Thabane said. "Looking from a distance, he is very active in this show."

On the other hand police were struggling to regroup after a deadly attack by the military on key installations early Saturday, which resulted in an arsenal of weapons being seized.

Amid the political tension, Maseru's residents stocked up on food and basic necessities.

"People are worried what will happen, because 'no work, no pay'," said fruit and vegetable vendor Kamele Pakisi. "There is no stability."

There is concern that a mass anti-government demonstration that was planned for today, Monday could bring a new chapter of violence.

"We are not afraid of today, we are just afraid of tomorrow," said Mphasa Chonela.

The police have called for the march not to go ahead, but critics question whether that is an attempt to protect the prime minister from criticism.

South Africa and the Commonwealth warned the Lesotho Defence Forces that such action "shall not be tolerated".

The United States voiced concern at the security clashes and called for "peaceful dialogue" in Lesotho.

The political temperatures in the country has been rising rapidly in recent months as the coalition formed in