Lesotho–United Kingdom relations

Lesotho–United Kingdom relations

Lesotho
United Kingdom
Diplomatic mission
High Commission of Lesotho, LondonHigh Commission of the United Kingdom, Maseru

Lesotho–United Kingdom relations are the bilateral and foreign relations between the Kingdom of Lesotho and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Upon Lesotho's independence, the two countries established diplomatic relations on 4 October 1960.[1]

Both countries share common membership of the Commonwealth and the World Trade Organization, as well as the SACUM–UK Economic Partnership Agreement.[2] Bilaterally the two countries have an Investment Agreement.[3]

History

The UK governed Lesotho from 1868 to 1966, when it achieved full independence.

Economic relations

From 4 February 2018 until 30 December 2020, trade between Lesotho and the UK was governed by the Southern African Customs Union–European Union Economic Partnership Agreement, while the United Kingdom was a member of the European Union.[4]

Following the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, the UK and the 'Southern Africa Customs Union and Mozambique', a trade bloc of which Lesotho is a member, signed a continuity trade agreement on 9 October 2019, based on the EU free trade agreement; the agreement entered into force on 1 January 2021.[5][6] Trade value between the 'Southern Africa Customs Union and Mozambique' and the United Kingdom was worth £12,539 million in 2022.[7]

Diplomatic missions

As Commonwealth nations, Lesotho and the United Kingdom are accredited to each other through high commissions.

  • Lesotho maintains a high commission in London.[8]
  • The United Kingdom is accredited to Lesotho through its high commission in Maseru.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ Majoro, Moeketsi (30 September 2021). "Remarks by the Right Honourable the Prime Minister Dr. Moeketsi Majoro on the Reopening of the British High Commission" (PDF). Government of Lesotho. Maseru. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 March 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  2. ^ Bavier, Joe (11 September 2019). "Britain agrees post-Brexit trade deal with southern Africa". Reuters. Archived from the original on 18 February 2022. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Lesotho - United Kingdom BIT (1981)". UN Trade and Development. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  4. ^ "EU - SADC". World Trade Organization. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  5. ^ Truss, Elizabeth (11 September 2019). "UK agreed trade continuity with 6 African nations". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 11 September 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  6. ^ Bavier, Joe (11 September 2019). "Britain agrees post-Brexit trade deal with southern Africa". Reuters. Archived from the original on 18 February 2022. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  7. ^ "UK trade agreements in effect". GOV.UK. 3 November 2022. Archived from the original on 17 January 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  8. ^ Diplomat Magazine (1 November 2014). "Lesotho". Diplomat Magazine. Archived from the original on 20 June 2025. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  9. ^ "British High Commission Maseru". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 10 September 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.