Lesotho
I-Lesotho ngokusemthethweni uMbuso we-Lesotho, ngaphambilini owaziwa ngokuthi yi-Basutoland, lilizwe elinganamanzi eSewula ye-Afrika. Njenge-enclave yeSewula Afrika, lapho ehlanganyela khona umngcele we-1,106 km (687 mi), yi-enclave ekulu khulu ephasini, begodu ngiyo kwaphela ngaphandle kwe-Italy Peninsula. Itholakala eentabeni ze-Maloti begodu inesiqongo esiphakeme khulu eSewula ye-Afrika.[9] Inendawo engaphezu kwama-30,000 km2 (11,600 sq mi) begodu inabantu abangaba ziingidi ezimbili. Inhlokodolobha yayo nedorobha elikhulu kunazo zoke yi-Maseru. Ilizwe laziwa nangebizo lesidlaliso elithi The Mountain Kingdom.[1]
Isitjhaba se-Sotho (esaziwa nangokuthi yi-Basotho), lapho inarha le ithathe khona ibizo layo, yenza i-99.7% yabantu beenarha zamanje, okwenza bona ibe ngenye yeentjhaba ezineentjhaba ezifanako khulu ephasini loke. Ilimi labo lomdabu, isiSuthu, lilimi elisemthethweni kanye nesiNgisi. Ibizo elithi Lesotho litjhugululwa ngokuthi "inarha yabantu abakhuluma isiSutho".[2]
I-Lesotho yabunjwa ngo-1824 yiKosi u-Moshoeshoe I. Ukungenelela okuragela phambili kwabahlali be-Dutch kwenza bona iKosi yenze isivumelwano noMbuso we-Britain bona ibe yindawo evikelweko ngo-1868 begodu, ngo-1884, ibe yikoloni yomqhele. Yazuza ikululeko ngo-1966, begodu ngemva kwalokho yabuswa yi-Basotho National Party (BNP) iminyaka ematjhumi amabili. Umbuso wayo womthethosisekelo wabuyiselwa ngo-1993 ngemva kweminyaka elikhomba yokubusa kwamasotja. INkosi u-Moshoeshoe II yadingiswa ngo-1990 kodwana yabuya ngo-1992 begodu yabuyiselwa esikhundleni ngo-1995. Ngemva komnyaka, u-Moshoeshoe II wahlongakala begodu indodanakhe u-Letsie III wathatha isihlalo sobukhosi, esaphetheko.[3]