Coalition for Security? The SADC Security Community and Lesotho´s Coalition Government

Coalizão por Segurança? A Comunidade de Segurança da SADC e o Governo de Coligação do Lesoto

Authors

  • Sibusiso Moyo Major General of the Zimbabwe National Army. Ph.D. Candidate, University of Zimbabwe.
  • Charity Manyeruke Professor of Political Science and International Relations, Faculty of Social Studies of University of Zimbabwe.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21814/perspectivas.72

Keywords:

Security Community, Coalition Governments, Lesotho, Military

Abstract

Lesotho's 2012 elections resulted in the formation of a coalition government. Idealy the formation of a coalition government is accompanied by positive expectation of compromise and development. However, a turn of events in Lesotho's coalition government has threatened the stability of that country. This article examines the dynamics of security and insecurity in Lesotho's coalition government. The point of departure is an overview of security in Southern Africa in order to define security in the context of the SADC security community. The paper discusses South Africa-Lesotho relations highlighting the interdependence between the two countries. An evaluation of the efficacy of Lesotho's coalition government and the impact of the coalition on Lesotho's security is made in this paper. The article identifies factionalism, a strong military insubordination and power struggles as contributing factors towards the 2014 crisis in Lesotho.

Resumo

As eleições de Lesoto em 2012 resultaram na formação de um governo de coligação. Idealmente, a formação de um governo de coligação é acompanhada por uma expectativa positiva de compromisso e desenvolvimento. No entanto, uma série de acontecimentos no governo de coligação do Lesoto ameaçou a estabilidade desse país. Este artigo examina a dinâmica de segurança e insegurança no governo de coligação do Lesoto. O ponto de partida é uma visão geral da segurança na África Austral, a fim de definir a segurança no contexto da comunidade de segurança da SADC. Este documento discute as relações África do Sul-Lesoto, destacando a interdependência entre os dois países. Uma avaliação da eficácia do governo de coligação do Lesoto e o impacto da coligação na segurança do Lesoto é feita neste documento. O artigo identifica facciosismo, uma forte insubordinação militar e lutas pelo poder como fatores que contribuem para a crise de 2014 no Lesoto.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

2015-06-01

How to Cite

Moyo, S., & Manyeruke, C. (2015). Coalition for Security? The SADC Security Community and Lesotho´s Coalition Government: Coalizão por Segurança? A Comunidade de Segurança da SADC e o Governo de Coligação do Lesoto. Perspectivas - Journal of Political Science, 14, 77–92. https://doi.org/10.21814/perspectivas.72

Issue

Vol. 14 (2015)

Section

Articles

License

Authors must be sure that they have permission to reproduce copyright material, prior to submitting their articles to this Journal.

Authors must secure permission if they have permission to reproduce figures, tables, or any extract from the text of another source. This applies to direct reproduction as well as to any derivative reproduction.

In assigning copyright, authors retain their right to use their own material elsewhere, provided that the Journal is acknowledged as the original place of publication, and the Editorial Team is notified in writing in advance.

Further information on copyright policy please contact info@perspectivasjournal.com