Defence Force confirms boot camp girls sexually harassed

The Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) has confirmed that two girls in its care were sexually harassed, reports GroundUp. The girls were enrolled at a youth boot camp at Mafeteng military base. The incidents occurred during transfers in an ambulance. The admission follows allegations raised last week by opposition leader and MP Machesetsa Mofomobe, who publicly accused the military of failing to protect children participating in the camp. According to the LDF, 377 children (265 boys and 112 girls) are currently enrolled in the programme. The ages range from 13 up. Launched in 2021, the LDF Boot Camp is a six-week youth development programme. It is intended to instil discipline, patriotism and leadership through physical training, civic education and life-skills activities. The current intake began on 14 December. Eight days later, allegations of sexual abuse surfaced publicly, placing the programme under intense scrutiny. On Saturday, senior LDF officials confirmed two incidents of sexual harassment involving female campers. Lieutenant Colonel Bokang Melato, the LDF’s youth development co-ordinator, acknowledged the two cases but emphasised that the army did not authorise the soldier’s actions, and the perpetrator would be held responsible for his misconduct. Melato said the incidents occurred while the girls were being transported by military ambulance from Mafeteng to Maseru for medical treatment. Melato said the soldier was immediately removed from the camp and transferred to Maseru, where the matter would be handled beyond the programme’s internal structures.