GENERAL UPDATE
Concerns over the exclusion of persons with disabilities in the 2026 Census
On 13th April 2026, Lesotho commenced its Population and Housing Census, a nationwide exercise conducted by the Bureau of Statistics under the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning to generate data for development planning, resource allocation, and policymaking.
However, the Lesotho National Federation of Organisations of the Disabled (LNFOD) criticised the census process, arguing that persons with disabilities and their civil society organisations were not meaningfully consulted during its design and implementation. According to LNFOD, engagement with disability stakeholders was limited and did not adequately reflect the principle of “nothing about us without us,” which emphasises the participation of persons with disabilities in decisions affecting them.
Disability organisations also stated that the census questionnaire did not sufficiently capture disability-related information, including data on functional limitations and the use of assistive devices. They warned that these shortcomings could result in an undercount of persons with disabilities and an incomplete understanding of the barriers they face. Questions about the reliability of disability data have been heightened by previous census results, which recorded a decline in the proportion of persons with disabilities from 3.7 per cent of the population in 2006 to 2.5 per cent in 2016.
The implications extend beyond persons with disabilities and affect the work of civil society organisations (CSOs) advocating for disability rights. CSOs rely on official census data to assess needs, monitor government commitments, support evidence-based advocacy, and secure programme funding. Disability rights organisations have called for greater transparency regarding the census methodology and for measures to ensure that persons with disabilities are fully and accurately represented in national data collection processes.
Peaceful Assembly
Protesters arrested and charged after road maintenance protest
On 1st June 2026, residents of Semphetenyane Village in Lithoteng Ward, Maseru, staged a protest to demand the rehabilitation of the Semphethenyane Road, which they said had been neglected for approximately 15 years despite reports suggesting that rehabilitation work had already been completed.
During the protest, community members blocked sections of the road and burned tyres to draw attention to their concerns regarding the deteriorating state of the road and the lack of government action. The Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) intervened to disperse the crowd and restore access to the road. During the operation, approximately 40 residents were arrested and detained.
The arrests attracted public attention after some residents alleged that individuals who had not engaged in unlawful acts were also detained. Community members claimed that certain arrests were made simply because people were present at the scene or speaking about local service delivery issues.
Concerns were also raised regarding freedom of expression and media freedom after police reportedly confiscated the mobile phone of a journalist from the MNN Centre while covering the protest. Further allegations were made regarding the treatment of detainees, with one resident alleging that she was forcibly detained and subjected to humiliating treatment during the arrest process. The Ombudsman stated that detaining individuals without reasonable suspicion, imposing collective punishment, or using excessive force would be inconsistent with constitutional protections and human rights standards.
In the days following the protest, eight residents appeared before the Maseru Magistrates’ Court on charges related to public violence, including burning tyres, obstructing a public road, and inciting disorder. The accused were granted bail pending trial.
Authorities attempt to prevent workers’ protest
On 31st October 2025, Lesotho’s "Big Six" trade unions planned a mass protest in Maseru to draw attention to the crisis facing the country's textile and garment industry, which is one of Lesotho's largest employers. The unions were concerned about the potential loss of thousands of jobs due to uncertainty surrounding the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the impact of United States tariffs on Lesotho's exports. They also sought government action regarding poor working conditions and unpaid severance packages owed to workers affected by factory closures.
On 24th October 2025, days before the protest, the Lesotho Mounted Police Service denied permission for the protest, citing alleged administrative deficiencies in the unions' application. The unions rejected this explanation, arguing that they had complied with all requirements under the Public Meetings and Processions Act of 2010 and that the denial constituted an unlawful restriction on the right to peaceful assembly. They appealed to the Minister of Police and threatened legal action, claiming that new bureaucratic requirements were being imposed to prevent the protest from taking place.
Several trade unions and CSOs criticised the authorities' actions, arguing that the permit denial represented an administrative obstacle to workers seeking to express their grievances publicly.
Although the protest was initially blocked, workers and union members were eventually able to protest in Maseru and submit a petition to government representatives. Hundreds of textile workers participated in the protest, calling for urgent measures to protect jobs and secure the future of the industry. Government officials received the petition and acknowledged the workers' concerns.