Legal information, not legal advice. Every jurisdiction page carries its verification status and sources.

Lesotho

Kingdom of Lesotho

Mixed Roman-Dutch and English common lawParliamentary constitutional monarchyReviewed· 2026-08-03
Capital
Maseru
Population
2,300,000
Languages
Sesotho, English
Currency
LSL

Lesotho · Constitution

Constitution of Lesotho

Restored constitutional government in 1993 after two decades of suspension and military rule. It establishes a Westminster-style parliamentary monarchy in which the King is a constitutional head of state without executive power, provides a justiciable bill of rights, and creates the Council of State to advise the King. Repeated political instability has generated litigation over the dissolution of parliament and the scope of the King's duty to act on advice.

The constitutional text

Restored constitutional government in 1993 after two decades of suspension and military rule. It establishes a Westminster-style parliamentary monarchy in which the King is a constitutional head of state without executive power, provides a justiciable bill of rights, and creates the Council of State to advise the King. Repeated political instability has generated litigation over the dissolution of parliament and the scope of the King's duty to act on advice.

Separation of powers

Unitary with ten districts, and a recognised hierarchy of chiefs exercising customary functions over land allocation and local dispute resolution. The Senate includes the twenty-two principal chiefs ex officio.

Found something out of date on Lesotho · Constitution?

Corrections are reviewed against the primary source before anything changes.

Report a correction