Lesotho Reaffirms Commitment to African Union Agenda

The Kingdom of Lesotho has restated its steadfast support for the African Union’s vision of continental unity, integration, and sustainable development. This was conveyed during a courtesy visit to the African Union Commission (AUC) headquarters, by Lesotho’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the AU, H.E. Ms Nts’iuoa Sekete.

Ambassador Sekete also conveyed warm congratulations and a message of support from His Majesty King Letsie III, pledging Lesotho’s “full and unwavering backing” as the new Commission charts its course. H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf was elected Chairperson of the Commission in February 2025 alongside four commissioners.

“Lesotho stands ready to work hand-in-glove with the new Commission,” Ambassador Sekete said after the meeting. “Our priorities—regional integration, sustainable development, and a people-centred African Union—align squarely with the Chairperson’s vision.”

The Chairperson, together with four other Commissioners, was elected at the AU Heads of State and Government Summit in February 2025. Elections for the remaining two Commissioners are scheduled for the Executive Council’s Mid-term Coordination Meeting in July 2025.

During the meeting, Ambassador Sekete assured the Chairperson of Lesotho’s “full and unwavering” backing as the new leadership embarks on its mandate. She also underscored Lesotho’s determination to see more qualified Basotho fill positions within AU institutions, noting that equitable geographic representation is integral to the Union’s legitimacy and effectiveness.

Showcasing Lesotho’s Contributions

The conversation highlighted several flagship initiatives on which Lesotho hopes to deepen collaboration:

• Human-capital representation: Ambassador Sekete underscored her government’s determination to see “steady progress” in filling Lesotho’s employment quota at the AU with highly qualified Basotho, broadening both professional opportunities and institutional diversity.
• Lesotho Highlands Water Project: Cited as a model for cross-border infrastructure and climate resilience, the project offers lessons in public-private partnership and regional benefit-sharing that can inform the AU’s wider Agenda 2063 infrastructure goals.
• Textile and apparel competitiveness: With Lesotho already a leading apparel exporter under global trade regimes, the envoy discussed leveraging that expertise to boost intra-African supply chains under the AfCFTA, thereby anchoring industrial jobs on the continent.
• Nutrition and Just Energy Transition: The meeting explored synergies between His Majesty King Letsie III’s role as AU Champion for Nutrition and Lesotho’s “HMK-Just Energy Transition” initiative—both aimed at inclusive, low-carbon growth that safeguards health and food security.

Backing AUC Institutional Reforms

Ambassador Sekete voiced Lesotho’s strong endorsement of the ongoing reform agenda aimed at streamlining AUC operations, boosting fiscal discipline, and sharpening delivery on Agenda 2063. “A robust and responsive Commission is indispensable for tackling Africa’s pressing challenges,” she said, highlighting governance, peace, and climate resilience as priority areas.

Chairperson Youssouf welcomed Lesotho’s continued engagement, noting that smaller member states often pioneer innovative solutions that can be scaled continent-wide. He emphasized that filling AU staff quotas with skilled professionals from all regions remains central to the Commission’s renewal drive.

A Symbol of Active Participation

The visit signals Lesotho’s proactive role in shaping continental policy and highlights its commitment to multilateral cooperation. By engaging the AUC’s top leadership at the outset of its new term, Maseru demonstrates both solidarity and a readiness to contribute tangible expertise to the Union’s collective aspirations.

As AU organs prepare for the Mid-term Coordination Meeting in July, Lesotho’s example highlights how member states can leverage bilateral dialogue to advance shared priorities—ranging from trade and infrastructure to nutrition and energy transition—while reinforcing the AU’s guiding principles of unity, integration, and inclusive development.