Lesotho Opposition Leader Tšepo Lipholo Hit With Treason Charge Over Alleged Military Training

Lesotho opposition leader Tšepo Lipholo is facing a treason charge that could carry the death penalty, after the state added the charge to his ongoing case. Lipholo, leader of the Basotho Covenant Movement, was arrested in July 2025 and initially charged with sedition, incitement, and contempt of court. He is accused of recruiting young Basotho men aged 18 to 35 for military-style training on farms in South Africa, with the goal of reclaiming territory he claims was part of Basutoland before 1966.

South African intelligence and the Hawks investigated the alleged camps but found no evidence of illegal military training. The treason charge, filed at the Maseru Magistrate Court, accuses Lipholo and his co-accused, former police officer Mpiti Thamae, of plotting to overthrow the Lesotho government. The state alleges that Lipholo traveled to Mohale’s Hoek to seek support for declaring himself king of a territory in South Africa, and that he prepared a shadow cabinet, national anthem, and flag for the claimed land.

Lipholo has been out on bail since December 2025. His controversial campaign includes calls for the return of the Free State and parts of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape to Lesotho. Police spokesperson Superintendent Thabo Mohai declined to comment on the investigation, citing ongoing proceedings. A hearing date has not yet been set.

Article and image source: allafrica.com