The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 2000 to 2025 Africa
Military - note Lesotho, in 26 editions.
The entry for Lesotho published Military - note in 26 editions of 36, from 2000 to 2025. The text changed in 7 editions. Each is shown as published. Military - note in every entry.
- editions changed the text
- 7
- the first edition with it
- 2000
- the latest edition with it
- 2025
Published as “Military - note” (2000 to 2025).
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.
2025 edition
Changed since 2024The same text in 3 editions, 2000 to 2002.
The Lesotho Government in 1999 began an open debate on the future structure, size, and role of the armed forces, especially considering the Lesotho Defense Force's (LDF) history of intervening in political affairs.
The Lesotho Government in 1999 began an open debate on the future structure, size, and role of the armed forces, especially considering the Lesotho Defense Force's (LDF) history of intervening in political affairs.
The same text in 5 editions, 2003 to 2007.
the Lesotho Government in 1999 began an open debate on the future structure, size, and role of the armed forces, especially considering the Lesotho Defense Force's (LDF) history of intervening in political affairs
The the Lesotho Government in 1999 began an open debate on the future structure, size, and role of the armed forces, especially considering the Lesotho Defense Force's (LDF) history of intervening in political affairs. affairs
The same text in 7 editions, 2008 to 2014.
- Lesotho's declared policy is maintenance of its independent sovereignty and preservation of internal security;
- in practice, external security is guaranteed by South Africa;
- restructuring of the Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) and Ministry of Defense and Public Service over the past five years has focused on subordinating the defense apparatus to civilian control and restoring the LDF's cohesion;
- the restructuring has considerably improved capabilities and professionalism, but the LDF is disproportionately large for a small, poor country;
- the government has outlined a reduction to a planned 1,500-man strength, but these plans have met with vociferous resistance from the political opposition and from inside the LDF (2008)
Rewritten: too little of the 2007 text remains to mark the changes.
Lesotho's declared policy is maintenance of its independent sovereignty and preservation of internal security; in practice, external security is guaranteed by South Africa; restructuring of the Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) and Ministry of Defense and Public Service over the past five years has focused on subordinating the defense apparatus to civilian control and restoring the LDF's cohesion; the restructuring has considerably improved capabilities and professionalism, but the LDF is disproportionately large for a small, poor country; the government has outlined a reduction to a planned 1,500-man strength, but these plans have met with vociferous resistance from the political opposition and from inside the LDF (2008)
The same text in 7 editions, 2015 to 2021.
- Lesotho's declared policy for its military is the maintenance of the country's sovereignty and the preservation of internal security;
- in practice, external security is guaranteed by South Africa
Rewritten: too little of the 2014 text remains to mark the changes.
Lesotho's declared policy for its military is the maintenance of the country's sovereignty and the preservation of internal security; in practice, external security is guaranteed by South Africa
- Lesotho's declared policy for its military is the maintenance of the country's sovereignty and the preservation of internal security;
- in practice, external security is guaranteed by South Africa
- the LDF began in 1964 as the Police Mobile Unit (PMU);
- the PMU was designated as the Lesotho Paramilitary Force in 1980 and became the Royal Lesotho Defense Force in 1986;
- it was subsequently renamed the Lesotho Defense Force in 1993 (2022)
Lesotho's declared policy for its military is the maintenance of the country's sovereignty and the preservation of internal security; in practice, external security is guaranteed by South Africa
the LDF began in 1964 as the Police Mobile Unit (PMU); the PMU was designated as the Lesotho Paramilitary Force in 1980 and became the Royal Lesotho Defense Force in 1986; it was subsequently renamed the Lesotho Defense Force in 1993 (2022)
- Lesotho's declared policy for its military is the maintenance of the country's sovereignty and the preservation of internal security;
- in practice, external security is guaranteed by South Africa;
- the LDF is a small force comprised of about a half dozen infantry companies;
- it began in 1964 as the Police Mobile Unit (PMU);
- the PMU was designated as the Lesotho Paramilitary Force in 1980 and became the Royal Lesotho Defense Force in 1986;
- it was subsequently renamed the Lesotho Defense Force in 1993 (2023)
Lesotho's declared policy for its military is the maintenance of the country's sovereignty and the preservation of internal security; in practice, external security is guaranteed by South AfricaAfrica; the LDF is a small force comprised of about a half dozen infantry companies; it began in 1964 as the Police Mobile Unit (PMU); the PMU was designated as the Lesotho Paramilitary Force in 1980 and became the Royal Lesotho Defense Force in 1986; it was subsequently renamed the Lesotho Defense Force in 1993 (2022) (2023)
- Lesotho's declared policy for its military is the maintenance of the country's sovereignty and the preservation of internal security;
- in practice, external security is guaranteed by South Africa;
- the LDF is a small force comprised of about a half dozen infantry companies;
- it began in 1964 as the Police Mobile Unit (PMU);
- the PMU was designated as the Lesotho Paramilitary Force in 1980 and became the Royal Lesotho Defense Force in 1986;
- it was renamed the Lesotho Defense Force in 1993 (2024)
Lesotho's declared policy for its military is the maintenance of the country's sovereignty and the preservation of internal security; in practice, external security is guaranteed by South Africa; the LDF is a small force comprised of about a half dozen infantry companies; it began in 1964 as the Police Mobile Unit (PMU); the PMU was designated as the Lesotho Paramilitary Force in 1980 and became the Royal Lesotho Defense Force in 1986; it was subsequently renamed the Lesotho Defense Force in 1993 (2023) (2024)
- the Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) is responsible for the maintenance of the country's sovereignty and the preservation of internal security;
- in practice, external security is guaranteed by South Africa;
- the LDF is a small force that began in 1964 as the Police Mobile Unit (PMU);
- the PMU was designated as the Lesotho Paramilitary Force in 1980 and became the Royal Lesotho Defense Force in 1986;
- it was renamed the Lesotho Defense Force in 1993 (2025)
Lesotho's declared policy for its military the Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) is responsible for the maintenance of the country's sovereignty and the preservation of internal security; in practice, external security is guaranteed by South Africa; the LDF is a small force comprised of about a half dozen infantry companies; it that began in 1964 as the Police Mobile Unit (PMU); the PMU was designated as the Lesotho Paramilitary Force in 1980 and became the Royal Lesotho Defense Force in 1986; it was renamed the Lesotho Defense Force in 1993 (2024) (2025)
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Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. “Lesotho: Military - note.” The World Factbook, 2000–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/lesotho/military-note.