Lesotho

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{{Infobox Bantu name|root=Sotho|person='''Mo'''sotho|people='''Ba'''sotho|country='''Le'''sotho|language=[[Sotho language|'''Se'''sotho]]}}

{{Infobox Bantu name|root=Sotho|person='''Mo'''sotho|people='''Ba'''sotho|country='''Le'''sotho|language=[[Sotho language|'''Se'''sotho]]}}

'''Lesotho''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=Lesotho.ogg|l|ɪ|ˈ|s|uː|t|uː}} {{respell|lih|SOO|too}},{{Cite web|url=https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/lesotho|title=lesotho noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes {{!}} Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com|website=www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com|language=en|access-date=2018-03-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311081136/https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/lesotho|archive-date=11 March 2018|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}{{cite LPD|3}} {{IPA|st|lɪˈsʊːtʰʊ}}),{{efn|The country is also known by the nicknames "the Mountain Kingdom" and "the Kingdom in the Sky".{{Cite web |title=Office Of The King |url=https://www.gov.ls/office-of-the-king/ |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=Government Of Lesotho |language=en-US |archive-date=12 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312155115/https://www.gov.ls/office-of-the-king/ |url-status=live }}}} officially the '''Kingdom of Lesotho'''{{efn|{{langx|st|Naha ea Lesotho}}}} and formerly known as '''[[Basutoland]]''', is a [[landlocked country]] in [[Southern Africa]]. Entirely surrounded by [[South Africa]], it is the largest of only three sovereign [[enclave and exclave|enclaves]] in the world, the others being [[San Marino]] and [[Vatican City]], which are surrounded by [[Italy]]. Lesotho is situated in the [[Maloti Mountains]] and contains the [[Thabana Ntlenyana|highest peak in Southern Africa]].{{Cite web |title=Maloti Mountains {{!}} Drakensberg, Lesotho Highlands, Southern Africa {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Maloti-Mountains |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en |archive-date=24 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124193607/https://www.britannica.com/place/Maloti-Mountains |url-status=live }} It has an area of over {{convert|30000|km2|mi2|abbr=on|sigfig=3}} and has a population of about 2.3 million. Its [[Capital city|capital]] and largest city is [[Maseru]].

'''Lesotho''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=Lesotho.ogg|l|ɪ|ˈ|s|uː|t|uː}} {{respell|lih|SOO|too}},{{Cite web|url=https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/lesotho|title=lesotho noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes {{!}} Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com|website=www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com|language=en|access-date=2018-03-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311081136/https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/lesotho|archive-date=11 March 2018|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}{{cite LPD|3}} {{IPA|st|lɪˈsʊːtʰʊ}}),{{efn|The country is also known by the nicknames "the Mountain Kingdom" and "the Kingdom in the Sky".{{Cite web |title=Office Of The King |url=https://www.gov.ls/office-of-the-king/ |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=Government Of Lesotho |language=en-US |archive-date=12 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312155115/https://www.gov.ls/office-of-the-king/ |url-status=live }}}} officially the '''Kingdom of Lesotho'''{{efn|{{langx|st|Naha ea Lesotho}}}} and formerly known as '''[[Basutoland]]''', is a [[landlocked country]] in [[Southern Africa]]. Surrounded by [[South Africa]], it is the largest of the only three sovereign [[enclave and exclave|enclaves]], the others being [[San Marino]] and [[Vatican City]]. Lesotho is situated in the [[Maloti Mountains]], with the [[Thabana Ntlenyana|highest peak in Southern Africa]].{{Cite web |title=Maloti Mountains {{!}} Drakensberg, Lesotho Highlands, Southern Africa {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Maloti-Mountains |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en |archive-date=24 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124193607/https://www.britannica.com/place/Maloti-Mountains |url-status=live }} It has an area of over {{convert|30000|km2|mi2|abbr=on|sigfig=3}} and has a population of about 2.3 million. Its [[Capital city|capital]] and largest city is [[Maseru]].

Lesotho was formed in 1824 by [[Moshoeshoe I|King Moshoeshoe I]]. Continuous encroachments by Dutch settlers made the King enter into an agreement with the United Kingdom to become a [[protectorate]] in 1868 and, in 1884, a [[crown colony]]. [[History of Lesotho|It achieved independence]] in 1966, and was subsequently ruled by the [[Basotho National Party]] (BNP) for two decades. Its constitutional government was restored in 1993 after seven years of military rule. [[Moshoeshoe II of Lesotho|King Moshoeshoe II]] was exiled in 1990 but returned in 1992 and was reinstated in 1995. One year later, Moshoeshoe II died and his son [[Letsie III]] took the throne, which he still holds.

Lesotho was formed in 1824 by [[Moshoeshoe I|King Moshoeshoe I]]. Continuous encroachments by Dutch settlers made the King enter into an agreement with the United Kingdom to become a [[protectorate]] in 1868 and, in 1884, a [[crown colony]]. [[History of Lesotho|It achieved independence]] in 1966, and was subsequently ruled by the [[Basotho National Party]] (BNP) for two decades. Its constitutional government was restored in 1993 after seven years of military rule. [[Moshoeshoe II of Lesotho|King Moshoeshoe II]] was exiled in 1990 but returned in 1992 and was reinstated in 1995. One year later, Moshoeshoe II died and his son [[Letsie III]] took the throne, which he still holds.