MATSAPHA — The Kingdom of Lesotho has pledged to play an active role in advancing peace, security and stability across Africa following its participation in the induction programme for newly elected Members of the African Union Peace and Security Council held in Matsapha last week.
The high level programme, hosted in Matsapha, brought together incoming and continuing members of the Peace and Security Council, alongside officials from the African Union Commission and key organs within the African Peace and Security Architecture. The gathering focused on strengthening coordination, deepening institutional understanding and aligning responses to the continent’s shifting security challenges.
Lesotho’s delegation was led by Ambassador Nts’iuoa Sekete, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Lesotho to the African Union. She was accompanied by Brigadier General Ketseletso Mofoka, Defence Attaché, Advocate Tatolo Sefeane, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Lesotho to the African Union, and Counsellor Relebohile Moeti from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations. 
Speaking to the Agency on Thursday while in Eswatini, Ambassador Sekete said Lesotho stands ready to contribute meaningfully to the work of the Council during its 2026 to 2028 term.
“We will actively contribute to strengthening early warning and early response mechanisms, support mediation efforts across the continent, and champion the protection of vulnerable populations, particularly women and children affected by conflict,” she said.
The discussions in Matsapha covered conflict prevention, peace support operations, post conflict reconstruction and sustainable financing for peace and security, particularly through the African Union Peace Fund. Ambassador Sekete said Lesotho would approach its tenure guided by preventive diplomacy, inclusivity and African led solutions.
“Above all, Lesotho will be a constructive, bridge-building member of the Council working collaboratively to ensure that decisions are timely, credible, and impactful.”
She said preventive diplomacy must move beyond principle and be implemented in practical ways, including the systematic use of early warning data and the timely deployment of fact finding and mediation missions before crises escalate.
“Prevention is not only more humane, it is also more cost-effective, and we must invest in it deliberately,” she said.
Although Southern Africa is regarded as one of the more stable regions on the continent, Ambassador Sekete noted that governance, electoral processes and constitutionalism remain central to sustaining peace. She also warned of climate induced insecurity and youth unemployment, which could threaten stability if not addressed.
“Our approach is informed by the understanding that peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice, opportunity, and accountable institutions,” she said.
She added that Lesotho’s success on the Council would be measured by tangible outcomes.
“If, at the end of our term, we can point to strengthened preventive diplomacy, improved protection of civilians, and tangible progress in silencing the guns, even in small but meaningful ways then we will consider our tenure a success,” she said.
Ambassador Sekete said Lesotho’s role on the Council is an investment in both continental and national stability.
“By contributing to peace on the continent, we help create an environment conducive to trade, investment, and development, which directly benefits Basotho,” she said.
The induction programme also featured Professor Mafa Sejanamane, former Ambassador of Lesotho to the African Union and former Member of the Peace and Security Council, who shared insights on the Council’s working methods and decision making processes.
