Former army commander faces treason trial

Lesotho Government sources say former army commander Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli, will face treason charges in connection with the 30 August 2014 attempted coup against Prime Minister Thomas Thabane. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Hlalefang Motinyane, refused to comment on the issue saying ‘criminal charges are not communicated through the press’. However, the Lesotho Times reports that judicial sources said treason charges would be brought against Kamoli ‘and several soldiers’. They are already facing murder and attempted murder charges. During their 22 October court appearance, chief prosecutor Advocate Shaun Abrahams asked Justice Onkemetse Tshosa for more time as the state intended to introduce ‘more unspecified charges against them and add more suspects to their case’. The case was postponed to 21 January 2020. Legalbrief reports that the All Basotho Convention was democratically removed from power by a seven-party coalition. Two months later, Thabane fled to SA with two other opposition leaders, claiming that their lives were in danger. They returned to Lesotho on 12 February 2017 in order to participate in a parliamentary vote of no confidence that unseated Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili.