Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MASERU223
2007-04-12 15:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Maseru
Cable title:  

EXTRAORDINARY SADC DELEGATION ARRIVES IN LESOTHO

Tags:  PREL PGOV LT 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO2912
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHRN
DE RUEHMR #0223 1021544
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 121544Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY MASERU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2874
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 3227
UNCLAS MASERU 000223 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV LT
SUBJECT: EXTRAORDINARY SADC DELEGATION ARRIVES IN LESOTHO

REF: MASERU 202 AND PREVIOUS

UNCLAS MASERU 000223

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV LT
SUBJECT: EXTRAORDINARY SADC DELEGATION ARRIVES IN LESOTHO

REF: MASERU 202 AND PREVIOUS


1. A ministerial-level delegation of the Southern African
Development Community (SADC) Troika Organ on Politics, Defense,
and Security arrived in Maseru on April 11 to focus on Lesotho's
post-election political stalemate. The troika consists of
Tanzania (chair),Namibia (in-coming chair) and Angola
(out-going chair). The delegation has come to Lesotho following
recommendations made at the recent SADC Summit held in Tanzania
on March 29. The Summit followed a SADC Council of Ministers
meeting held in Maseru on March 22, during which Lesotho's
opposition parties urged the SADC Double Troika to intervene in
the country's domestic political situation.


2. The SADC Mission currently in Lesotho, led by Ministers from
Tanzania, Namibia, and Angola, is expected to meet with the
governing Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) party, the
Lesotho Council of NGOs, a sub-committee of Lesotho Cabinet
members, the Christian Council of Lesotho (CCL),the resident
diplomatic corps, and Lesotho's five main opposition parties.
(Note: The five opposition parties--the ABC, ACP, BNP, MFP, and
NIP--have alleged an unfair allocation of the forty proportional
seats in Lesotho's Parliament. The parties suspended a
paralyzing strike in late March following assurances of a SADC
mediation role. End Note.) The SADC mission will also pay a
courtesy call on Lesotho's Prime Minister. The visit coincides
with a visit by a Commonwealth delegation, led by Professor Ade
Adefuye of the London-based Commonwealth Secretariat. Adefuye
arrived in Maseru on April 10 to discuss the political situation
in Lesotho.

PERRY