Lesotho MP faces sedition charges for accusing king of signing country to South Africa

A political storm is brewing in Lesotho as Dr. Tshepo Lipholo, a Member of Parliament and leader of the Basotho Covenant Movement (BCM), faces serious criminal charges following explosive claims about the country’s sovereignty.

Dr. Lipholo has been accused of inciting public unrest and undermining the royal family’s dignity after publicly alleging that Lesotho’s monarchy and government had surrendered national control to neighbouring South Africa, effectively making it the 10th province of the larger nation.

According to court documents seen by the BBC, the charges stem from statements made by Dr. Lipholo across social media platforms and radio interviews between April and June 2025. He reportedly described himself as the "paramount chief of Basutoland", the colonial-era name for Lesotho, and questioned the legitimacy of King Letsie III’s rule.

The MP's bail application, initially set for this week, was postponed, with his legal team expected to present their case by July 25, 2025. Until then, he remains in police custody.

Dr. Lipholo, whose party holds just one seat in Lesotho’s Parliament, has long advocated for a controversial motion to reclaim territories in South Africa he claims rightfully belong to the Basotho people. These include the Free State, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal—areas with deep historical Basotho roots dating back to the 19th century before colonial land seizures by Afrikaner settlers.

His stance is loosely grounded in a 1962 UN resolution affirming the right of colonised peoples to self-determination, which he says supports his case. However, regional consensus remains firmly against redrawing post-independence borders. The 1964 Cairo Declaration, endorsed by the Organisation of African Unity (now the African Union), solidified colonial borders to avoid widespread territorial disputes.

South African authorities have already dismissed Dr. Lipholo’s claims as impractical and lacking public or governmental support in Lesotho.

Adding to the intrigue, Major General Samuel Makoro, a retired military officer, was also arrested last week for allegedly aiding Dr. Lipholo by sharing sensitive information.

Dr. Lipholo has suggested taking his campaign beyond the region, including to the British Parliament, arguing that the UK failed to address historical border injustices when Lesotho gained independence in 1966.

While his political rhetoric has gained attention, legal experts and diplomats say the charges reflect the government’s zero-tolerance approach to threats against national unity and constitutional order.