Lesotho Reforms Hang in the Balance Ahead of Elections

Reforms should have preceded voting; their passage now depends on the promises of parties running for power.

Lesotho citizens are going to the polls on 7 October amid uncertainty over the future of much-needed reforms that were declared null and void at the eleventh hour. Violence and brutality by security forces also threaten the elections, which over 50 political parties are contesting.

Numerous observer groups are in the country, including the first-ever major European Union (EU) mission. The…