Chief Leabua Jonathan

prime minister of Lesotho

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June 29, 2026

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Chief Leabua Jonathan was the prime minister of Lesotho from its independence in 1966 until he was deposed in a military coup in 1986. He led the Basotho National Party (BNP), a conservative party supported by the South African government and the Roman Catholic Church.12

Jonathan's premiership was marked by a struggle to define the role of the monarchy. He clashed with King Moshoeshoe II, placing him under house arrest and later forcing him into exile when the opposition Basotho Congress Party (BCP) won the 1970 elections. Jonathan annulled the election results, suspended the constitution, and ruled by decree.134

Despite initial alignment with South Africa, Jonathan later became a critic of its apartheid policies. His authoritarian rule ended in 1986 when he was overthrown in a coup supported by South Africa.32

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flag of Lesotho
The prime minister, Chief Leabua Jonathan, wanted to use the flag of his own ruling Basotho National Party, which had four equal horizontal stripes from top to bottom of blue, white, red, and green. Other parties objected, and instead the national flag displayed green, red, and blue vertically with…
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The prime minister, Chief Leabua Jonathan, wanted to use the flag of his own ruling Basotho National Party, which had four equal horizontal stripes from top to bottom of blue, white, red, and green. Other parties objected, and instead the national flag displayed green, red, and blue vertically with…
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Moshoeshoe II
…his powers, causing Prime Minister Leabua Jonathan, of the Basotho National Party (BNP), to place him under house arrest in December 1966. A month later Moshoeshoe agreed to honour the constitution, which effectively gave executive power to the prime minister. After the opposition party, Basotho Congress Party (BCP), won the…
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…his powers, causing Prime Minister Leabua Jonathan, of the Basotho National Party (BNP), to place him under house arrest in December 1966. A month later Moshoeshoe agreed to honour the constitution, which effectively gave executive power to the prime minister. After the opposition party, Basotho Congress Party (BCP), won the…
Read More