SADC has learnt with deep shock, sadness and dismay about the assassination of the Commander of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF), Lieutenant General Khoantle Motsomotso which took place on 5 September 2017. Some Senior Officers of the LDF are reported to have also lost their lives in the shooting incident. SADC strongly condemns this indescribable and inexcusable barbaric and heinous act.

This development is a serious blight and set back to the ongoing efforts to restore peace, security and stability to the Kingdom of Lesotho. It is an unfortunate occurrence which threatens the prevailing peace and security of the SADC region as a whole. In order to avert the possibility of further deterioration of security in the Kingdom of Lesotho, the SADC is immediately deploying a Ministerial fact finding Mission to the Kingdom of Lesotho from 7 to 10 September 2017. The Mission will comprise Organ Troika Ministers plus SADC Chair accompanied by Defence and Security experts.

The Fact Finding Mission is expected to conduct an assessment of the security situation and to hold meetings with all key stakeholders in the Kingdom of Lesotho in order to establish the root causes of the assassination and subsequently recommend the appropriate courses of action.

SADC wishes to reassure all citizens of Lesotho, Member States and the entire international community that SADC remains seized with developments in the Kingdom of Lesotho and will spare no efforts in ensuring the maintenance and restoration of lasting peace and security to the Kingdom of Lesotho.