JOHANNESBURG — During his address to Congress on Tuesday evening, President Trump defended his administration’s reductions in humanitarian aid to various countries, including a specific nation he humorously remarked “nobody has ever heard of.”
This refers to Lesotho, a nation located in southern Africa.
The foreign minister of Lesotho, Lejone Mpotjoane, expressed to NPR that it was “quite surprising for the president to make such a comment.”
Mpotjoane noted, “The U.S. operates an embassy in Maseru [the capital of Lesotho],” reinforcing the long-standing partnership between the two nations.
He extended an invitation for Trump to visit his country.
Among those present during the address on Capitol Hill, there’s a possibility that one individual could accurately point out the small nation on a map: Elon Musk, Trump’s advisor, who has South African roots and has played a key role in the restructuring of the U.S. Agency for International Development. Just last autumn, Lesotho’s prime minister met with Musk to discuss solutions for internet access within Lesotho.
Consider the following highlights regarding the mountainous kingdom encircled by South Africa.
The U.S. was assisting Lesotho in combating AIDS
Women leave the polling station after casting their vote in Thaba-Tseka district, Lesotho, on Oct. 7, 2022.
Themba Hadebe/AP
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Themba Hadebe/AP
Regarding Trump’s statements, he claimed that the U.S. allocated “$8 million to promote LGBTQI+ in the lesser-known African nation of Lesotho.” However, the majority of USAID’s funding towards Lesotho is directed at HIV prevention efforts. Lesotho is notably one of the countries most severely impacted by the AIDS epidemic, with the United Nations estimating that nearly a quarter of its population is living with HIV.
The reduction in USAID funding has raised concerns about a potential rise in HIV infections and the possibility of preventable deaths. A USAID-funded organization in Lesotho reported to South African media that the funding had been assisting the antiretroviral treatment of numerous individuals from the LGBTQ community living with HIV. Another organization highlighted that thousands of HIV-positive children and pregnant women may suffer due to the lack of support.
Lesotho’s health minister, Selibe Mochoboroane, stated that the government is taking measures to protect the jobs of approximately 1,500 health workers impacted by the budget cuts.
Lesotho is a country with modest means but rich in diamonds and water
A Sotheby’s employee displays a famous Lesotho I diamond during an auction preview in 2008 in Geneva. Some of the largest diamonds ever discovered have originated from Lesotho.
Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images
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Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images
Lesotho, which was under British protection until 1966, now has an estimated population of around 2.3 million. It operates as a constitutional monarchy, with King Letsie III serving as the head of state and Prime Minister Sam Matekane acting as the head of government. Matekane, who won the last elections in 2022, campaigned on a platform to eliminate corruption.
Formerly a diamond magnate, Matekane leads a country rich in diamonds, having mined some of the largest specimens ever found here. Despite this diamond wealth, Lesotho remains impoverished, with an economy heavily reliant on South Africa, from which it also sells its main natural resource, water.
Community members perform a dance and song in the village in Leribe, Lesotho, Oct. 2, 2024.
Brian Otieno/Getty Images for Sentebale
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Brian Otieno/Getty Images for Sentebale
Lesotho flaunts a distinctive style of traditional attire, featuring vibrant, intricately designed woolen blankets known as Basotho blankets, some of which are worn as shawls. Another notable headgear is a conical straw hat referred to as the “mokorotlo,” which is also depicted on the national flag.
Lesotho cultivates medical marijuana, produces jeans — and attracts Chinese investment
Matumelo Manosa (center) works in a garment factory in Maseru, Lesotho, on Feb. 24, 2022.
Neo Ntsoma/AP
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Neo Ntsoma/AP
While the U.S. government may overlook its relationship with Lesotho, Washington’s primary competitor for influence in Africa, China, does not. Chinese organizations have constructed much of the country’s infrastructure, including the parliament, and during a major summit with African heads of state held in Beijing last year, both nations pledged to enhance cooperation in numerous sectors, including green energy, education, and agriculture.
Companies from China and Taiwan have also long established a presence in Lesotho, with factories focused on textile and clothing production. The textile sector acts as a significant employer, making Lesotho the largest sub-Saharan African garment exporter to the U.S.; however, labor rights advocates have reported instances of worker exploitation in denim production facilities.
Lesotho is also looking to profit from a burgeoning industry: in 2017, the country started granting licenses for marijuana cultivation for medical use, and several companies are currently producing it for export.
It serves as a second home for a British prince
Prince Harry is welcomed by a community leader during a visit to Leribe, Lesotho, on Oct. 2, 2024.
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One person who is very familiar with Lesotho’s location is Prince Harry of Britain. Having spent part of his gap year there after high school, he has developed a fondness for the nation. The Duke of Sussex even has a nickname in Sesotho: Mohale, translating to “warrior.”
He has cultivated a close relationship with Lesotho’s royal family, and in 2006, he co-founded a children’s HIV/AIDS charity called Sentebale with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho. Last year, he returned to commemorate the country’s bicentenary, expressing that he “rekindled cherished connections from his childhood.” He recalled that when he first visited Lesotho at 19, still grappling with the loss of his mother, Princess Diana, he encountered young individuals who were also dealing with grief, including many orphaned by AIDS.
