Southern African Development Community intervention in Lesotho

The Southern African Development Community intervention in Lesotho, codenamed Operation Boleas, was a military invasion launched by the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and led by South Africa through its South African National Defence Force into Lesotho to quell a coup d'état.

SADC intervention in Lesotho
Date22 September 1998 – May 1999
(8 months)
Location
Lesotho
Belligerents

SADC

 South Africa

 Botswana[1]

Lesotho opposition

  • Pro-opposition faction of the LDF
Strength

1,820[1]

 South Africa:

600 soldiers		 2,000+ rebellious soldiers[2]
Casualties and losses

 South Africa:

11 killed, 17+ wounded[1][3]		 134[1]

Prelude

In May 1998, parliamentary elections in Lesotho resulted in an overwhelming majority for the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy Party, which won 79 out of 80 seats. However allegations of vote fraud soon surfaced, and after a failed lawsuit by the opposition parties, widespread rioting broke out.

Under President Nelson Mandela the ANC-led government in South Africa (which completely landlocks Lesotho) announced it would hold a formal inquiry to determine the allegations of corruption. Controversially, the report only alleged minor irregularities.

Intervention

Mandela authorised the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to Lesotho on 22 September 1998 to quell the rioting and maintain order. Botswana Defence Force soldiers were also deployed. The operation was described as an "intervention to restore democracy and the rule of law." The SANDF contingent included a squadron of Ratel-90 and Rooikat armoured fighting vehicles seconded from 1 Special Service Battalion.[4]

Widespread arson, violence, and looting occurred despite the presence of SANDF soldiers. The last South African troops were pulled out in May 1999 after seven months of occupation. The capital city of Maseru was heavily damaged, requiring a period of several years for rebuilding.

Aftermath

South Africa was accused in some quarters of using its military and diplomatic superiority as a regional hegemon to dominate and meddle in the internal affairs of its much smaller, weaker neighbour to further its own strategic interests.[5] South Africa is the largest economic and military power in the SADC.

See also

References
  1. "South Africa invades Lesotho - Green Left Weekly".
  2. "SANDF's chaotic invasion". Mail & Guardian. 25 September 1998.
  3. "'A fractious lot': Anatomy of (another) coup in Lesotho". Daily Maverick. 3 July 2015.
  4. "Customs, Traditions, History, and Insignia of the South African Armoured Corps" (PDF). Bloemfontein: South African Armour Association. 18 October 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
  5. "South African military intervention in Lesotho - A critical overview | Siyabonga Hadebe". Academia.edu. 1 January 1970. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
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