Peace Agreements Database

Country/entity

Lesotho

Region

Africa (excl MENA)

Agreement name

Signed agreement by political parties on the National Assembly Electoral Bill 2011

Date

09/03/2011

Agreement status

Multiparty signed/agreed

Interim arrangement

No

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.

Lesotho Crisis (1998) )

Stage

Framework/substantive - partial (Core issue)

Conflict nature

Government

Peace process

68: Lesotho process

Parties

11 political parties are signatories;
Marematlou Freedom Party (MFP), signed by Vincent Moeketse Malebo
Lesotho Workers Party (LWP), signed by Sello Maphalla
Basotho Batho Democratic Party (BBDP), signed by Jeremane Ramathebane (signed twice)
All Basotho Convention (ABC), signed by Tom Thabane
Lesotho People's Congress (LPC), signed by Kelebone A Maspu
Batotho National Party (BNP), signed by [Illegible]
Popular Front for Democracy (PFPD), signed by Lekhetho Rakuoane
Basotho Democratic National Party (BDNP), signed by Pelele A. Letsoela
National independent, [illegible]
Government of Lesotho, by Archibald [...Illegible...]

Third parties

Description

Agreement for the amendment of the Electoral Law. Notably emphasises ensuring proportionality in the National Assembly, fairness in campaign financing and the inclusion of women in party lists.

Agreement document

LS_110309_Agreement on National Assembly Electoral Bill 2011.pdf []

Main category

12. Gender balance on party lists
a. Article 47 (2b&c)

13. Gender quota on the party list
(Minority dissenting view in favour of one-third - BNP and BDNP, PFD)
(ABC asks for time to consider)

Women, girls and gender

Participation

Gender quotas

Page 2, 12. Gender balance on party lists
a. Article 47 (2b&c)

[Explanatory note: Section 47 (2: b & c) of the Lesotho National Assembly Election Amendment Act of 2011, introduced the rule for the proportional contest whereby a political party shall ‘arrange the candidates in order of preference from top to bottom, with a female or male candidate immediately followed by a candidate of the opposite sex; and include equal numbers of women and men’. Source: quotaProject - http://www.quotaproject.org/uid/countryview.cfm?country=133].

Page 2, 13. Gender quota on the party list
(Minority dissenting view in favour of one-third - BNP and BDNP, PFD)
(ABC asks for time to consider)

Equality

No specific mention.

Particular groups of women

No specific mention.

International law

No specific mention.

New institutions

No specific mention.

Violence against women

No specific mention.

Transitional justice

No specific mention.

Institutional reform

No specific mention.

Development

No specific mention.

Implementation

No specific mention.

Other

No specific mention.