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The Kingdom of Lesotho signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 4 December 1997 and ratified it on 2 December 1998. The treaty entered into force for Lesotho on 1 June 1999. Lesotho has not passed domestic implementing legislation, as the Internal Security Act of 1984 is deemed adequate.
Lesotho submitted its first Article 7 transparency report on 17 August 2000, which had been due on 27 November 1999. In this report, Lesotho officially declares, that it does not use, produce, or have a stockpile of antipersonnel mines. Lesotho is not mine-affected.
Lesotho has not submitted its annual updated Article 7 Reports, due on 30 April 2001 and 30 April 2002. A government official stated the delay was due to the fact that “all government employees have been busy preparing for the crucial general elections of 25 May 2002.”[1]
Lesotho did not participate in the Third Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in September 2001 in Managua, Nicaragua or the Mine Ban Treaty intersessional Standing Committee meetings in January and May 2002 in Geneva. Lesotho cosponsored and voted in favor of UN General Assembly Resolution 56/24M on 29 November 2001, promoting the Mine Ban Treaty.
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[1] Interview with a Spokesperson of Lesotho's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, April 2002.
