Today in History: Lesotho’s deputy Prime Minister shot
Parliament, whose members probably feared for their own safety, adjourned immediately.
On this day in 1994, Lesotho’s Deputy Prime Minister, Selometsi Baholo, was shot dead by dissident soldiers during an apparent kidnapping attempt.
They also seized four Cabinet Ministers – President Shakhane Mokhehle, Monyane Moleleki, Pakalitha Mosisili and Kelebone Maope – in the mutiny over a planned government probe into the army.
Lesotho’s President Mokhehle appealed for South African intervention, but his request was turned down. Despite South Africa’s refusal of military assistance, the South African Defence Force was asked to contact its Lesotho counterparts to urge them to keep the situation calm for fear of a military coup or the imposition of sanctions on the tiny kingdom by the international community.
Information courtesy of: https://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/lesotho039s-deputy-prime-minister-shot.
