Lesotho mediation efforts to continue

South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will undertake a third visit to Lesotho Tuesday to mediate the political crisis in the country, it was announced Monday.

During the visit, Ramaphosa, who is also the facilitator of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), will help create dialogue among Lesotho's political leaders to address their current political and security challenges, Xinhua reported.

Ramaphosa will be supported in these efforts by SADC deputy executive secretary Themba Mhlongo, who is leading the regional body's team of experts and members from Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana.

Ramaphosa has been pushing Lesotho's leaders to initiate elections, reconvene parliament as well as stabilise the security situation in the country.

During the last two visits, Ramaphosa met Lesotho's King Letsie III and Prime Minister Thomas Thabane.

Trouble has been brewing in Lesotho since June, when Thabane's rival, deputy prime minister Metsing, vowed to push for a parliamentary vote of no confidence against Thabane.

Thabane then suspended parliament in June to avoid a vote of no confidence.

He was forced to flee to South Africa late August after an attempted coup against him.

The blame for the attempted coup had been pinned on Lesotho defence force commander Tlali Kamoli, who has refused to step down.