Statement: 2022 elections in Lesotho

The United Kingdom commends the conduct of the general election held in the Kingdom of Lesotho. Observers from the United Kingdom identified a peaceful and well-managed election along with a small number of concerns relating to the confusion surrounding the electoral roll.

The United Kingdom Observer Mission focused on 20 polling stations across 3 districts of Lesotho:

The Mission found calm and peaceful proceedings at all the polling stations it visited throughout the day of the elections. The voting process was lengthy at times with some voters having to wait multiple hours to cast their vote, but this did not result in any incidents during observation.

The voting process was observed as transparent with processes and procedures as outlined in the constitution of the Kingdom of Lesotho followed at the polling stations observed by the Mission.

There were concerns raised with a small number of cases with confusion for individual names on the electoral roll. The Mission noted the existence of such cases, which may have led to disenfranchisement of some voters.

The Mission noted enthusiasm amongst those voting for participating in democracy but also noted the level of turnout at some polling stations, which could benefit from greater engagement in civic education for future elections.

The United Kingdom Observer Mission would like to thank all those involved in the process of supporting these elections, including the Independent Electoral Commission, members of civil society organisations, and fellow national and international observers.