LM Report 2004

Lesotho

Key developments since 1999: Lesotho became a State Party on 1 June 1999. It has declared that it is not mine-affected and has no stock of antipersonnel mines. It has not submitted required annual updated Article 7 reports, including in 2004.

The Kingdom of Lesotho signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 4 December 1997, ratified on 2 December 1998, and the treaty entered into force on 1 June 1999. Lesotho cites the 1984 Internal Security Act as a national implementation measure and states, “Since Lesotho does not have the scourge of AP Mines, the Act suffices as it makes it an offence to manufacture, sell, supply, be in possession etc. of such dangerous weapons.”^[1]

Since participating fully in the Ottawa Process leading to the Mine Ban Treaty, Lesotho has attended two annual meetings of States Parties (in 1999 and 2003), as well as a few of the intersessional Standing Committee meetings, most recently in February 2004.^[2] Since 1996, Lesotho has voted in support of each annual pro-ban United Nations General Assembly resolution, with the exceptions of 1997 and 1999 when it was absent.

Lesotho submitted its initial Article 7 report on 17 August 2000, and a second report on 30 April 2003. It did not submit required annual updates in 2001, 2002, or 2004 (as of September 2004).^[3] According to the 2003 Article 7 report, the country does not use, produce or stockpile antipersonnel mines, including for training.^[4] Lesotho is not mine-affected.^[5]

[1] Article 7 Report, Form A, 30 April 2003
[2] A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official noted that attendance has been irregular, “due to other priorities and a lack of funds.” Interview with a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official, Maseru, 12 March 2003.
[3] Lesotho’s initial Article 7 report was due by 27 November 1999; the report is five lines long and did not indicate the time period covered. The second Article 7 Report, 30 April 2003, was for the period from April 2002 to April 2003.
[4] Article 7 Report, 30 April 2003.
[5] Interview with Brig. A. M. Mofolisa, Head of Operations, Lesotho Defense Force, Maseru, 12 March 2003; written statement by Lesotho to Landmine Monitor, 7 July 2000.