Communique by SADC Facilitator Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa: Maseru Facilitation Declaration

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Country/entity: Lesotho
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Communique by SADC Facilitator Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa: Maseru Facilitation Declaration
Date: 2 Oct 2014
Agreement status: Unilateral document
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Lesotho Crisis (1998)
After Lesotho became independent in 1966, the Basotho National Party (BNP) established a one-party-system that lasted for almost three decades. After being beaten in elections in 1998, street protests against the new government were initialized; paving the way for a coup attempt by a faction of the national army. The conflict escalated when South African and Botswanan troops intervened in support of the elected government and although the revolt was effectively dampened by the end of the year, the political situation has remained fragile since.
Stage: Framework/substantive - partial
Conflict nature: Government
Peace process: Lesotho process
Parties: Your Excellency Prime Minister Tom Thabane (All Basotho Convention);
Honourable Deputy Prime Minister; Mothejoa Metsing (Lesotho Congress for Democracy);
Lesotho, Honourable Chief Thesele Maseribane (Basotho National Party;
Honourable Monyane Moleleki (Basutoland Congress Party);
Honourable Vincent Malebo (Marematlou Freedom Party);
Third parties: The SADC Double Troika of Heads of States and Government plus DRC and Tanzania;
SADC Deputy Executive Secretary Dr Thabang Mhlongo;
Special Envoy Of The Commonwealth, Dr Prasad;
Senior SADC Officials;
Description: -

Agreement document: LS_141002_Maseru Facilitation Declaration .pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: Groups→Religious groups→Rhetorical
Page 2, 5. All the citizens of the Kingdom of Lesotho, including non-governmental organisations, all other role-players, traditional, civic and religious are called upon to support this critical endeavour for the restoration of peace and political stability and security in the Kingdom of Lesotho.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): Governance→Political institutions (new or reformed)→Temporary new institutions
Page 2, 1. His Majesty, King Letsie III, will reconvene parliament on 17 October 2014.
The sitting of parliament will be limited to the passing of a budget and all other related matters regarding the holding of elections.

Page 2, 3. Parliament will be dissolved at the beginning of December 2014 to prepare for the holding of the general elections

Page 2, 4. All political parties represented in parliament are called upon to recognize their responsibility to the people of the Kingdom of Lesotho, to respect the Constitution, uphold democratic principles and secure the restoration of peace and of political stability and security in the Kingdom of Lesotho
Elections: Page 2, 2. National General Elections will be held towards the end of February 2015 and on a date to be set by His Majesty.

Page 2, 3. Parliament will be dissolved at the beginning of December 2014 to prepare for the holding of the general elections

Page 2, 6. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) will be expected to conduct these elections on a free and fair basis. The SADC will assist the IEC in its efforts to hold credible, free and fair elections
Electoral commission: Page 2, 6. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) will be expected to conduct these elections on a free and fair basis. The SADC will assist the IEC in its efforts to hold credible, free and fair elections
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: Page 1, Untitled Preamble, ... We met all opposition political parties, the College of Chiefs, the IEC, the Council of Churches as well as the Non-Governmental Organisation. We also had an occasion to brief the Special Envoy of the Commonwealth, Dr Prasad. ...

Page 2, 5. All the citizens of the Kingdom of Lesotho, including non-governmental organisations, all other role-players, traditional, civic and religious are called upon to support this critical endeavour for the restoration of peace and political stability and security in the Kingdom of Lesotho.
Traditional/religious leaders: Page 2, 5. All the citizens of the Kingdom of Lesotho, including non-governmental organisations, all other role-players, traditional, civic and religious are called upon to support this critical endeavour for the restoration of peace and political stability and security in the Kingdom of Lesotho.

Page 1, Untitled Preamble, ... We met all opposition political parties, the College of Chiefs, the IEC, the Council of Churches as well as the Non-Governmental Organisation. We also had an occasion to brief the Special Envoy of the Commonwealth, Dr Prasad. ...
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: Page 2, 4. All political parties represented in parliament are called upon to recognize their responsibility to the people of the Kingdom of Lesotho, to respect the Constitution, uphold democratic principles and secure the restoration of peace and of political stability and security in the Kingdom of Lesotho
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: The Republic of South Africa Presidency, http://www.thepresidency.gov.za/pebble.asp?relid=18118

Communique by SADC Facilitator Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa:

Maseru Facilitation Declaration

02 October 2014

Your Excellency Prime Minister Tom Thabane Honourable Deputy Prime Minister Mothejoa Metsing Honourable Chief Thesele Maseribane

Honourable Monyane Moleleki

Honourable Vincent Malebo

SADC Deputy Executive Secretary Dr Thabang Mhlongo Special Envoy Of The Commonwealth, Dr Prasad Senior SADC Officials

Members of The Diplomatic Corps present here today Members of the Media

Ladies and Gentlemen

All Protocol observed

The SADC Double Troika of Heads of States and Government plus DRC and Tanzania meeting in Pretoria on 15 September 2014 mandated us as the SADC Facilitation Mission, to facilitate dialogue among all political and other role players in the Kingdom of Lesotho as part of efforts to assist the country to return to constitutional normalcy, political stability and restoration of peace and security.

In this context, the SADC Troika meeting in Pretoria built upon decisions of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security meeting held in Windhoek under the leadership of President of the Republic of Namibia, Hifikipunye Pohamba.

The decisions of the Organ were subsequently endorsed during the SADC Summit of Heads of States and Government held in Victoria Falls in August 2014.

In pursuance of these objectives, we have over the past few weeks paid several official visits to the Kingdom.

In this regard, we have paid courtesy call on His Majesty King Letsie III.

We consulted with Coalition partners in government.

We met all opposition political parties, the College of Chiefs, the IEC, the Council of Churches as well as the Non-Governmental Organisation.

We also had an occasion to brief the Special Envoy of the Commonwealth, Dr Prasad.

During our meetings, we had an opportunity to share the SADC Terms of Reference with all political and other role players.

These terms of reference form the SADC Troika mandate which guide our facilitation process in Lesotho with a view to finding a lasting solution to the current security challenges and ensure the restoration of political stability and security.

Having canvassed these issues among all political and other role players within the Kingdom of Lesotho, I was encouraged by their patriotism and determination to act within the mandate of SADC and to move their country and its people out of the current political and security challenges.

In this regard and following consultations, I am pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached with the majority of political stakeholders as follows:

1. His Majesty, King Letsie III, will reconvene parliament on 17 October 2014.

The sitting of parliament will be limited to the passing of a budget and all other related matters regarding the holding of elections.

2. National General Elections will be held towards the end of February 2015 and on a date to be set by His Majesty.

3. Parliament will be dissolved at the beginning of December 2014 to prepare for the holding of the general elections

4. All political parties represented in parliament are called upon to recognize their responsibility to the people of the Kingdom of Lesotho, to respect the Constitution, uphold democratic principles and secure the restoration of peace and of political stability and security in the Kingdom of Lesotho

5. All the citizens of the Kingdom of Lesotho, including non-governmental organisations, all other role-players, traditional, civic and religious are called upon to support this critical endeavour for the restoration of peace and political stability and security in the Kingdom of Lesotho.

6. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) will be expected to conduct these elections on a free and fair basis.

The SADC will assist the IEC in its efforts to hold credible, free and fair elections

May I take this opportunity to extend my gratitude and indeed that of SADC Heads of States and Government, to His Majesty King Letsie III for his support and guidance.

Our gratitude also goes to the Coalition parties led by Prime Minister Tom Thabane, leaders of all political parties in Lesotho and other role-players for their role in helping to bring this agreement to fruition and putting the interests of the country and people first.

I thank you