The Ambassador and Permanent Representative to African Union, Ms Ntsiuoa Sekete says Lesotho’s absence from the nominations for African Union Commission should not be perceived as a missed opportunity for the country.
Speaking in an interview with Lesotho News Agency (LENA), on Friday, she revealed that Lesotho had identified a highly credible candidate for one of the six commissioner roles.
However, following consultations within the Southern African region, it was collectively decided by the Foreign Ministers that only Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe, eSwatini, and South Africa would field candidates for these positions.
This decision was made in recognition of the fact that these countries had not previously been represented within the commissions.
“Our Southern region operates on the principle of voting as a bloc; we do not vote against one another,” Ms Sekete noted, highlighting the unity and collaboration that exist among the member states. This established arrangement has historically proven beneficial for the region.
Ambassador Sekete also pointed out that Lesotho had representation in the African Union Commission until approximately eight years ago, when Dr. Mothae Maruping served as the Commissioner for Trade and Economic Affairs. During that period, the support from the Southern African region was robust, underpinning the importance of solidarity among member states.
Looking ahead, Ambassador Sekete expressed optimism about future opportunities for Lesotho to field candidates. “We will soon have opportunities to nominate Basotho candidates again, and we can expect to enjoy the same support we extend to our fellow member states in the region,” she said.
Source: Lesotho News Agency. 24/2/2025.
