Eyewitnesses say ltcol hashatsi and ltcol sechele had muscled their way into ltgen motsomotsos office and demanded to see him. Botswana defence force bdf the botswana defense force bdf traditionally has been dominated by the army. Since the mountainous kingdom is completely landlocked by south africa, in practice the countrys external defence is. Review decision to discharge pregnant soldiers from the army whether the decision falls within the purview of commanders power to. Former lesotho defence force commander maaparankoe mahao was shot dead by soldiers in. The lesotho defence force has received a new commander, major general phatoli lekanyane, succeeding lieutenant general thuso motanyane, who retired after 38 years of service. The lesotho air wing was an originally a 1978 offshoot of the parliamentary police mobile unit began operations with two shorts skyvans twin turboprop stol transports, a leased cessna a152 areobat, two mbb bo 105 helicopters and a westland built bell 47g converted to solely turboshaft power. Lesothos army chief shot dead by rival soldiers official.
Moreover, the country has invested millions of dollars into the defence force since its inception with about 2. Maaparankoe mahao, former commander of the lesotho defence force, on 25 june, near maseru. Sep 05, 2017 lesotho defence force ldf commander khoantle motsomotso was assassinated by his subordinates on tuesday morning according to unconfirmed reports. The shooters who killed lesotho s defence force commander khoantle motsomotso earlier on tuesday were under investigation for another military commander s murder. Jan 25, 2016 the adage that love knows no boundaries can best describe the situation at botswana defence force bdf as they found themselves in dicey situation after one of their female army officers chose to marry the lesotho defence force ldf commander of special forces colonel tefo hashati. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about lesotho military 2020 should be addressed to the cia or the source cited on each page.
Colonel tanki mothae, the principal secretary for the defence force, told reuters the two senior officers were under investigation for the murder of another former lesotho defence commander in. The commander of the lesotho defence force is the professional head of the defence force. Maseru lesotho defence force ldf commander, ltgen khoantle motsomotso, was shot dead on tuesday morning during a gun battle with ltcol tefo hashatsi and ltcol bulane sechele at ratjomose barracks. Commander of the lesotho defense force and others v mokoena. Colonel tanki mothae, the principal secretary for defence forces, confirmed the killing of motsomotso, who was commander of the lesotho defence force, but provided no further details. Commander lesotho defence force v makhele c of a civ 39. Sep 05, 2017 colonel tanki mothae, the principal secretary for defence forces, confirmed the killing of motsomotso, who was commander of the lesotho defence force, but provided no further details. Khoejane makhele are charged with any crime with which they are suspected within 8 days of the date of this judgment or be released. Ban condemns killing of former lesotho military commander. This years conference is cohosted by the united states and botswana and will focus on the training aspect of force development.
Local media reports said the officers had forced their way into the commander s office triggering a shootout and that they were killed by his bodyguards. Four commissioned officers of lesotho defence force have been promoted to senior ranks of brigadier and majorgeneral with effect from february 6, 2003 to fill posts left vacant by retired senior. The lesotho defence force air squadron is the air force of the lesotho defence force the lesotho defence force air wing was an originally a 1978 offshoot of the paramilitary police mobile unit and began operations with two short skyvan twin turboprop stol transports. Sep 05, 2017 update 3 commander of lesotho defence force shot dead, south africa calls for calm. The resulting formula was based on sections 145 and 148 of the constitution of lesotho and the policy subsequently expressed in the lesotho defence force act no 4 of 1996. Commander of lesotho defence force shot dead defence official.
That the commander of the lesotho defence force is directed to allow. Maseru reuters lesothos top military leader, khoantle motsomotso, and two senior officers were. Update 3commander of lesotho defence force shot dead. Another lesotho army commander assassinated allnet africa. Lekanyane took over command during a handover ceremony on august 24 at the ratjomose barracks in maseru. The trial comes six months after he was arrested in connection with the 30 august 2014 killing of police subinspector, mokheseng ramahloko. You have been keenly involved since the inauguration of the new government of the kingdom of lesotho in june 2017, and especially after the unfortunate assassination of the lesotho defence force commander, lt.
The lesotho defence force has weapons ranging from short guns to trucks. Commander of lesotho defence force shot dead, south africa. At the event the ldf deputy commander major general matela matobakele, said ldf aims to ensure adequate military and academic skills to its personnel, so that they execute. Lesotho military commander takes over special forces. The southern african development community sadc is to send a fact finding mission to lesotho following the assassination of that countrys defence force chief. Lesotho army commander assassinated african independent. Former lesotho defence force commander maaparankoe mahao was shot dead by soldiers in his village home on june 25, according to local. As i travel around the world and in interact on social media, the constant question i tend to be asked is why do incidents like the killing of the commander of the lesotho defence force ldf. Thabibiy thabibiy thabibiy iii is feeling relaxed at lesotho defence force ratjomose barracks.
He was replaced by lieutenant general tlali kamoli, 46. This is a download from the blds digital library on opendocs. Maseru lesotho s chief of the defence force lieutenantgeneral khoantle motsomotso was assassinated on tuesday morning, allegedly by a group of. Commander of lesotho defense force shot dead, south africa calls for calm. Lesotho times former lesotho defence force ldf commander, retired lieutenant general tlali kamoli, will next week finally stand trial in the high court over a plethora of murder and attempted murder charges. Colonel tanki mothae, the principal secretary for the defense force, told reuters the two senior officers were under investigation for the murder of another former lesotho defense commander in 2015. Sep 05, 2017 maseru lesotho s chief of the defence force lieutenantgeneral khoantle motsomotso was assassinated on tuesday morning, allegedly by a group of highranking officers, sending shock waves through. The shooters who killed lesothos defence force commander khoantle motsomotso earlier on tuesday were under investigation for another military commanders murder. Commander of the defence force, lieutenant general mojalefa letsoela. Statement attributable to the spokesman for the secretary.
The lesotho defence force ldf is the military of kingdom of lesotho, which consists of about 3,000 personnel and is tasked with maintaining internal security, territorial integrity, and defending the constitution of lesotho. Lieutenant general tlali kamoli has refused to step down as the commander of the lesotho defence force after he. Clashes in lesotho between antigovernment protestors and southern african troops wounded at least ten people on tuesday 2209 as mobs. Lesotho defence chiefs assassins were under investigation. Moshoeshoe ii gave the army the knight commander of the most dignified order. Phatshwana, botswana defence force air arm commander, speaks during the opening ceremony of the 2017 african air chiefs symposium in kasane, botswana may 16, 2017.
Mokhele and others v commander, lesotho defence force and. Commander of lesotho defence force shot dead, south africa calls for calm. Ministry of defence, and this person worked with lesotho officials and the military to work out a suitable structure for a ministry of defence for lesotho. Maseru lesotho defence force ldf commander major general phatoli lekanyane retired on thursday after serving in the army for 28 years. Former lesotho defence commander, kamoli trial finally. Maseru reuters the commander of the lesotho defense forces khoantle motsomotso and two other senior officers were shot dead on tuesday at an army barracks, the principal secretary for the. Lesotho defense force remains central to functioning of the state.
Lekanyane said he would uphold the high standards of professionalism that his predecessor. Sep 05, 2017 commander of lesotho defense force shot dead, south africa calls for calm. May 31, 2018 over one hundred lesotho defence force ldf senior officers were awarded certificates in maseru yesterday, after completing a five weeks ldf civil military relations seminar. Motanyane, commander of lesotho defence force, greets vice admiral robert moeller, u.
Sadc, sandf and the lesotho coup that wasnt the mail. Sep 05, 2017 at least two senior lesotho defence force officers are reported dead following a shootout in the army commander s office in the capital maseru. I havent gotten any formal letter from anybody and that is to say that i am still the commander of the lesotho defence force, said. Sep 08, 2017 following the deaths of the commander of lesotho s defence force, lieutenant general khoantle motsomotso and two senior ldf officers this week, the mountain kingdom remains tense. Lesotho defence force ratjomose barracks maseru, lesotho. The military and democratization in lesotho ids opendocs. Lesotho rule of law crisis johannesburg, 29 january 2016 introduction. Colonel tanki mothae provided no further details about the incident but a press conference was scheduled to be held later in the day. Force lpf, and the lesotho defence force ldf in the 1980s. A 258strong regional force was deployed to lesotho on saturday to ease security concerns in the landlocked kingdom after the killing of the countrys top army commander in september. The role of the lesotho ministry of defence in ensuring. He is responsible for the administration and the operational control of the lesotho military. United nations secretarygeneral today condemned the killing of lt.
He is responsible for the administration and the operational. The mission of the lesotho defence force is to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of lesotho and uphold the constitution of lesotho. Maseru lesotho afp a top lesotho defence official has urged regional powers to remove an influential military commander for flouting a peace deal meant to stabilise the tiny african country two months after an attempted coup. Spokesperson inspector mpiti mopeli said kamoli had handed himself in on wednesday and remains in custody pending the outcome of an interrogation. Jul 02, 2015 the family of slain former lesotho defence force ldf commander maaparankoe mahao has condemned government for deliberately distorting information about the shooting which led to his death. Sadc to investigate death of lesotho army commander youtube. Maaparankoe mahao, former commander of the lesotho defence force, on 25 june near maseru. Former lesotho defence force chief kamoli faces police. Lesothos army commander was shot dead by rival officers at a military barracks tuesday, an official told afp, in an apparent assassination set to revive instability in the mountainous african.
Update 3commander of lesotho defence force shot dead, south. Lesotho defence force air squadron military wiki fandom. Oct, 2017 lieutenantgeneral tlali kamoli, former commander of the lesotho defence force ldf, accused of overseeing atrocities, including an august 2014 coup, is in police custody. About our humanitarian crises coverage from major disaster, conflicts and. Lesotho army chief and two officers gunned down, tensions rise in. The place of the army in the constitutional democracy in lesotho. The lesotho defence force ldf is the military of kingdom of lesotho, which consists of about. Two lesotho defence force officers reported dead youtube. Murder, politicians and rebellious soldiers lesotho times. December 26, 2019 maseru, lesotho for those who knew him yesterday, this is him, he looks this ugly.
Eye witnesses say colonel tefo hashatsi and colonel. Jun 29, 2015 killing of former lesotho army chief deepens instability. Posts about lesotho defence force written by michaeljjordan. Brigadier mahao was shot dead by lesotho defence force ldf members as he left his farm in mokema on the afternoon of 25 june. Commander of lesotho defence force shot dead defence. Commander of lesotho defence force and others v rantuba c of. Killing of former lesotho army chief deepens instability. Harvest fm lesotho defence force senior officers are. Two suspects, brigadier bulane sechele and colonel tefo hashatsi, were later shot by the commanders bodyguards in an exchange of fire that culminated in the death of brig sechele, according to. Sadc force deployed in lesotho after killing of army commander. Since the mountainous kingdom is completely landlocked by south africa, in practice the countrys external defence is guaranteed by its larger neighbour, so the armed. Commander of lesotho defense force shot dead, south africa. Major general lekanyane was appointed army commander last august making his reign one of the shortest in the ldfs history.
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