Recent legislative votes are not the only thing that has fuelled
the controversy over territorial claims between Lesotho and portions of South
Africa. Rather, it is the result of changing ethnic identities, colonial
boundary legacies, decades of historical grievances, and changing regional
politics. Understanding the underlying dynamics that continue to influence the
conversation in this region of Southern Africa about land, identity, and
sovereignty requires a long-term viewpoint.
Historical Foundations: Colonial Borders and the Creation
of Basutoland
The roots of the conflict can be traced back to the colonial
period when European nations divided Southern Africa without considering the
indigenous lands and social systems. In 1868, Lesotho, then known as
Basutoland, became a British protectorate primarily to protect the Basotho
people under Moshoeshoe I from Boer expansion and Zulu conflicts. This colonial
boundary-setting divided Basotho communities between what is now South Africa
and Lesotho. The British introduced the paramount chief system to centralize
political control, establishing centralized leadership under colonial
supervision. This reorganization disrupted existing social and political
structures among various communities like the Hlubi, BaTlaokwa, BaKholokwe, and
others, many of whom lived in areas now part of South Africa but shared ethnic
and cultural connections with Lesotho.
The colonial creation of the "Basotho" identity
simplified complex affiliations to ease colonial governance and labour
extraction. Throughout the 20th century, these artificial borders became more
rigid, reinforced by South Africa's apartheid regime, which further limited
movement and political rights. Despite this, cross-border family and economic
connections persisted, particularly through Basotho migrant workers in South
African mines. The apartheid state's exploitation deepened socio-economic
divides but also solidified the political separation between Lesotho and South
Africa.
Post-Independence Challenges: Stability, Identity, and
Regional Relations
Lesotho achieved independence in 1966, inheriting the
colonial borders set by the British. Since then, it has faced ongoing political
instability, including coups and interventions, which have weakened its
internal governance. Its leaders have maintained a complex relationship with
apartheid South Africa - sometimes resisting, at other times cooperating,
especially through labour agreements that supported South Africa's mining
industry. Claims to South African territory have occasionally emerged, often linked
to assertions of shared ethnic heritage and historical rights. These claims are
driven by frustrations with Lesotho's limited land area, high population
density, and economic reliance on South Africa. They also reflect a broader
quest for identity and political leverage in a region still influenced by
colonial legacies. The African Union and regional organizations like the
Southern African Development Community have consistently stressed the
importance of respecting colonial borders to prevent conflicts. Nonetheless,
Lesotho's situation remains delicate because the claimed areas are economically
and strategically important for South Africa, and the cross-border populations
share intertwined histories.
Recent Developments and Political Calculations
The 2023 Lesotho parliamentary proposal designating portions
of South Africa as Lesotho's land is part of a series of such political
actions, sometimes more assertive and occasionally rhetorical, intended for
regional negotiations or local political audiences. These allegations draw
attention to long-standing complaints around land, sovereignty, and recognition.
Still, they also need to be viewed in the context of Lesotho's larger political
dynamics, which include attempts to establish regional influence and
consolidate power within the country. If
such claims are pursued without regional cooperation and international
dialogue, they run the danger of causing conflicts. Examples from Africa's
past, such as the border disputes between Nigeria and Cameroon or Eritrea and
Ethiopia, show how challenging and unstable unresolved border disputes can be.
They also highlight how crucial international legal frameworks and mediation
are to handling these conflicts.
Ethnic Identity, Governance, and the Politics of Land
One of the biggest issues is still the colonial legacy of
forced identities. The Basotho and other ethnic groups' “mega tribe” creation
facilitated colonial interests by streamlining administration, but it also
solidified power hierarchies and divisions that still exist today. Claims of
community ownership or rights were complicated by the paramount chief system,
which concentrated authority in elites and frequently alienated larger
communities. Due to these past manipulations, modern property claims need to
navigate complex social, political, and economic circumstances rather than
focusing solely on simple compensation. The elites claiming territory
frequently profit from the current situation and have personal agendas that
might not completely coincide with those of the general populace on either side
of the border.
Social Media Rhetoric
As with most controversial geopolitical issues, this topic
spread widely on social media, with different rhetoric coming from various
actors. This is not an exhaustive list of all the topics to emerge on social
media during this time and around the Lesotho-South Africa land issue. It is
instead a list of popular topics that emerged during this time, which can offer
insight into how this issue is affecting social media users in the region.
Editorial Note: For PERSEC reasons, screenshots of the
below descriptions of posts have been deliberately excluded, but they can be
requested from Fulcrum Analytics and can be released if deemed appropriate by
the authors.
Topic 1: “Israeli-financed Rebels Prepare to Attack SA”
At the end of July 2025, users on social media claimed that
rebels from Lesotho have been training under the guidance of Tshepo Lipholo,
leader of the Basotho Covenant Movement (BCM), in remote regions of Lesotho in
order to reclaim land from South Africa by force. Notably, this rhetoric was
accompanied by unconfirmed claims that Israel was behind the funding of these
alleged rebels. Interestingly, some users on social media called out the posts
for being disinformation, showing that some users are educated in identifying
disinformation. Shockingly and worryingly, the original authors of the unproven
claims told those calling them out for spreading false information to ask a
large-language model (LLM), which shall not be named, if they don’t believe the
post. This shows just how much some people are already relying on LLMs and
generative AI to do their thinking for them and highlights that some believe
that everything these LLMs produce is factual and correct, which is simply not
the case. Authorities can take note of this trend for counter-disinformation
campaigns. It is also important to note how actors who spread disinformation
related to Southern Africa are using antisemitic rhetoric to fuel their
campaigns. It is perhaps not surprising, considering South Africa’s ongoing case
against Israel at the ICJ.
Topic 2: “South African farmers trained alongside Lesotho
nationals to overthrow the SA government and reclaim land”.
Around the same time as the above-mentioned posts emerged,
some users on social media posted about the Lesotho military allegedly
illegally training South African farmers, including some illegal Lesotho
nationals living in South Africa, to overthrow the South African government and
claim land. At least one post spreading this rhetoric compared the situation to
the conflict between Rwanda and the DRC, saying that a conflict similar to that
which is ongoing in Goma, North Kivu Province, DRC, was going to begin in South
Africa. This rhetoric is notable for its comparison to a different, but
high-profile, conflict on the continent. Some users also said that South
African farmers were being trained in these camps, where people are being
taught how to carry out coups. This is highly dangerous rhetoric against a
group that is already targeted with other rhetoric that incites violence towards them.
Topic 3: Terrorism
The word “terrorism” suffers from the age-old problem of
having no single, objective definition. While it is sometimes used in contexts
where almost everyone can agree that the word “terrorism” is appropriate in
that context to describe the actions of a certain actor, it is sometimes also
used in highly subjective contexts. This is perhaps similar to the issue of
identifying hate speech in South Africa; it is still highly context-dependent
according to the law.
At least one user online called the alleged Lesotho
nationals who are reportedly training in the camps “terrorists”. The use of
this word is notable for the intense feeling it evokes from readers. This is
not the first time that Lesotho nationals have been dubbed terrorists online.
Previously, when illegal immigrants or criminals from Lesotho have been
arrested, some users online have called them “terrorists”.
In summary, the actors behind this rhetoric may want
to fuel antisemitism as well as hatred towards the Boers by framing Israel and
South African farmers as being responsible for a threat to South African
sovereignty from Lesotho. The question then becomes: Who will benefit from this,
and what can be gained by stoking this rhetoric? The answer to this can provide
insight into which threat actors are using South Africa as a theatre for their gain.
Strategic Implications and the Way Forward
Cooperation, not conflict, must continue to be the
fundamental focus for regional stability. The long-standing social and economic
ties between South Africa and Lesotho can be used to resolve fundamental issues,
including social inclusion, economic growth, and land reform. A wide range of
parties, including governments, regional institutions, civil society, and
traditional leaders, must be involved in any settlement of land conflicts or
identity concerns. Expansive territorial claims will become less appealing as
political instruments if Lesotho's democratic governance and economic
sustainability are strengthened.
Reconciling colonial legacies with modern realities while focusing on peace,
progress, and respect for one another's sovereignty is essential to the
region's future. The best course of action is to maintain current borders while
fostering creative cross-border cooperation.
In terms of combating online rhetoric, it is imperative for
the authorities and content moderators alike to monitor what is being said and
to determine whether it is a) the truth and b) not harmful to any communities.
The powers that have a responsibility to minimise harm through the removal of
content that violates the platform’s terms of service. Cooperation between
South African and Lesotho law enforcement and governmental OSINT teams (if they
exist) could also help combat the spread of disinformation and could save lives
in the long run by preventing the spread of hate for personal gain.
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