Lesotho unable to impose sanctions against SA

Date: 30 May 1964
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

The leader of the Basutoland National Party, Chief Leabua Jonathan, indicated that Basutoland (Lesotho) was so economically dependent on South Africa that the imposition of economic sanctions was not feasible. This stemmed from a United Nations call for all neighbouring countries to isolate South Africa and also calling that the arms embargo against the country should be imposed by all. Being completely surrounded by South Africa and Basutoland's foreign imports fully dependent on SA, Chief Jonathan felt it was virtually impossible to break ties with South Africa, as in his view Lesotho needed South Africa more than South Africa needed Lesotho.

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01Rethabile , 2005,Lesotho-SA Relations, from Mzansi Afrika,09 December,[online] Available at www.mzansiafrika.typepad.com ,[Accessed: 27 May 2013]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Lesotho unable to impose sanctions against SA. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012015

South African History Online (2011) 'Lesotho unable to impose sanctions against SA', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012015 (Accessed: 29 August 2026).

South African History Online, Lesotho unable to impose sanctions against SA [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012015, (accessed 29 August 2026).

"Lesotho unable to impose sanctions against SA." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012015. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "Lesotho unable to impose sanctions against SA." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012015.