Lesotho: Undocumented Basotho Men Trafficked Into Illegal Mining

Prolonged food insecurity in Lesotho, exacerbated by climate change impacts such as floods and droughts, has led to Basotho men being trafficked into illegal mining by organized crime syndicates operating in South Africa.

According to the recently released 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report: Lesotho by the United States government, undocumented Basotho men who voluntarily migrate to South Africa in search of employment are often exploited in derelict and unregulated gold mines.

The report also…