lesotho

Lesotho,(/lɪˈsuːtuː/ ⓘ lih-SOO-too,Sotho pronunciation:[lɪˈsʊːtʰʊofficially the Kingdom of Lesothoand formerly known as Basutoland, is an landlocked countryin Southern Africa. Entirely surrounded by South Africa, it is the largest of only three sovereign enclavesin the world, the others being San Marinoand Vatican City, which are surrounded by Italy.

Lesotho is situated in the Maloti Mountains and contains the highest peak in Southern Africa.

It has an area of over 30,000 km2(11,600mi2) and has a population of about 2.3 million. Its capitaland largest city is Maseru.

Lesotho was formed in 1824 by King Moshoeshoe I. Continuous encroachments by Dutch settlers made the King enter into an agreement with the United Kingdom to become a protectoratein 1868 and, in 1884, a crown colony. It achieved independencein 1966, and was subsequently ruled by the Basotho National Party(BNP) for two decades. Its constitutional government was restored in 1993 after seven years of military rule.

King Moshoeshoe IIwas exiled in 1990 but returned in 1992 and was reinstated in 1995. One year later, Moshoeshoe II died and his son Letsie IIItook the throne, which he still holds.

The Sotho ethnic group(also known as Basotho), from which the country derives its name, comprises 99.7% of the country's current population, making it one of the most ethnically homogeneousin the world. Their native language, Sesotho, is an official language along with English, IsiXhosa, and SiPhuthi.

Lesotho is considered a lower middle income countrywith significant socioeconomic challenges, but also one of the highest rates of literacyin Africa (81% as of 2021). Lesotho is a member of the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Commonwealth of Nations, the African Union, and