Secretary-General congratulates Lesotho for holding of peaceful elections
| Publisher | UN News Service |
| Publication Date | 31 May 2012 |
| Cite as | UN News Service, Secretary-General congratulates Lesotho for holding of peaceful elections, 31 May 2012, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4fc87e052.html [accessed 20 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
"The Secretary-General acknowledges that this is an important step for Lesotho in the consolidation of peace following the two-year mediation process that concluded in 2011," the spokesperson said in a statement. "He further encourages all political parties to move forward in the democratic process peacefully and in accordance with the constitution."
According to media reports, in the parliamentary elections held on 26 May, the Democratic Congress party won 41 of 80 seats, while the All Basotho Convention, the main opposition, secured 26 seats.
Mr. Ban's spokesperson added that the Secretary-General welcomes the professional work of the Independent Electoral Commission as well as the international and local electoral observer missions.
In April 2011, a two-year mediation process to peacefully resolve grievances stemming from disputed earlier polls in Lesotho successfully came to an end. The dispute followed the February 2007 general elections the fifth elections to be held in the small African nation since it gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1966 regarding the allocation of the seats in the Parliament based on proportional representation.
