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 Lesotho |  Russia |
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Lesotho–Russia relations are thebilateralrelations betweenRussia andLesotho.
TheSoviet Union and theKingdom of Lesotho establisheddiplomatic relations on 1 February 1980.[1] The Soviet ambassador to Mozambique was initially concurrently accredited to represent the Soviet Union's interests in Lesotho.[2] Yuri Sepelev was appointed as the first Soviet ambassador to Lesotho, in concurrence with his posting toMaputo, on 24 April 1983, and presented hisletter of credence toBasotho KingMoshoeshoe II on 9 June 1983.[3]
After aSouth African raid onMaseru on 9 December 1982, Lesotho began to build its relationships with thecommunist nations. After trips to thePeople's Republic of China and theEastern Bloc in May 1983,Basotho Prime MinisterLeabua Jonathan announced that China and the Soviet Union would be establishingembassies in the kingdom. TheSouth African government responded angrily to the announcement, and reminded Jonathan of a promise he made in 1965 not to allow an embassy of any communist country in Lesotho so long as he was Prime Minister.[4] Vincent Makhele, the Basotho Minister of Foreign Affairs, visitedMoscow in September 1984 for discussions with officials in theSoviet government.[2]
In a sign of increasedKGB presence in Lesotho, staffing levels in theembassy in Maseru were increased, and in May 1985 the Soviets appointed their first resident ambassador to Lesotho.[2][5] In December 1985, Makhele returned to Moscow, and signed a cultural and scientific co-operation agreement, and a technical and economic agreement, with the Soviets.[2] Soviet inroads in Lesotho suffered a setback when Jonathan was overthrown in January 1986 in a military coup which was led byJustin Lekhanya.[2]
On 24 January 1992, Lesotho recognised theRussian Federation as thesuccessor state to theSoviet Union, after thelatter's dissolution.[6] TheRussian embassy in Maseru was closed in August 1992, and thereafter the Russian ambassador to South Africa has been concurrently accredited to Lesotho. Anatoly Makarov, the current Russian ambassador, presented hisletters of credence toKingLetsie III on 13 April 2007.[6]Makase Nyaphisi, until 2012 the Basotho Ambassador to Russia and succeeded byMatlotliso Lineo Lydia Khechane-Ntoane, presented his credentials toRussian presidentDmitry Medvedev on 5 February 2010.[7]
Since the beginning of the bilateral relationship with Lesotho, some 50 Basotho nationals have been educated in Soviet and Russian universities. Some of these graduates are employed in senior positions in thegovernment of Lesotho, the most prominent of whom isMonyane Moleleki, the Basotho foreign minister, who graduated fromMoscow State University.[6] Since 1996, the Russian government provides to Lesotho, scholarships for three Basotho citizens to obtain basic higher education, and one scholarship for a Basotho citizen to study in graduate school.[6]
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