US President Donald Trump in March ridiculed Lesotho as a spot “no person has ever heard of” after which this week hit the tiny African kingdom with the best of his reciprocal commerce tariffs for any single nation.
Listed below are some issues to know in regards to the nation generally referred to as the Switzerland of Africa due to its mountainous panorama.
Fully surrounded by South Africa, Lesotho is the biggest of solely three enclaved states on the planet, far greater than San Marino and the Vatican Metropolis, each of that are inside Italy.
At 30,355 sq. kilometres (11,720 sq. miles), it’s about the identical measurement as Belgium.
Its inhabitants is roughly 2.3 million, in comparison with Belgium’s practically 12 million.
Lesotho is understood for the great thing about its mountainous terrain and types itself the “Kingdom within the Sky”.
Greater than 80 p.c of the nation sits 1,800 metres (5,900 toes) above sea degree and it’s house to southern Africa’s solely ski resort.
The highest peak is Mount Thabana Ntlenyana, with an altitude of at 3,482 metres.
A constitutional monarchy, it’s dominated by 61-year-old King Letsie III, who has no formal energy. The authorities is led by a first-rate minister.
With a annual gross home product of simply over $2 billion, Lesotho is essentially depending on South Africa — it largest buying and selling companion — from which it imports most of its meals, promoting water in return.
The financial system is closely reliant on textile exports certain for the US by way of the African Progress and Alternative Act (AGOA) commerce deal which supplies duty-free entry to the US marketplace for some African merchandise.
Its conventional Basotho blankets are a nationwide image and famend for his or her vibrant patterns and woollen heat. They’re usually loaded with that means, from celebrating life and nationality, to fertility and royalty, peace, love and braveness.
Lesotho ranks among the many world’s poorest international locations regardless of big mineral reserves.
British mine firm Gem Diamonds mentioned in 2018 it had found a 910-carat stone in one among its a number of Lesotho diamond mines.
The nation additionally pioneered the rising of hashish for medical use in Africa.
Unemployment has remained stubbornly excessive, hitting practically 25 p.c in 2023, in response to the World Financial institution.
A charity co-founded by Prince Harry in Lesotho to assist folks dwelling with HIV bumped into turbulence this month after a bitter boardroom row led King Charles III’s youthful son to step down as patron.
Its Zimbabwe-born chairperson, Sophie Chandauka, publicly accused the prince of “bullying” and being concerned in a “cowl up”, accusations the previous royal has dismissed as lies.
Harry based the charity in 2006 with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, earlier than it expanded to Botswana.
The title, Sentebale, is a tribute to his mom, Princess Diana, who died in a Paris automotive crash in 1997 when he was simply 12.
At the very least one in 4 adults in Lesotho is contaminated with HIV, in one of many highest charges on the planet.
Greater than 230,000 folks had been receiving anti-retroviral therapy in 2021, in response to the World Well being Group.
In 2020, the nation achieved the UN’s “90-90-90” objective of 90 p.c of individuals with the virus being recognized, on therapy and attaining viral suppression.
The nation additionally has the second-highest incidence of TB on the planet, estimated at 724 circumstances per 100,000 folks.
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