Lesotho is reportedly one of the ten countries where the United States plans to permanently close its diplomatic missions, as part of a major cost-cutting initiative by the U.S. State Department.
According to reports, the Office of the U.S. Under Secretary for Management has outlined a proposal to reduce the department’s overall budget by 50 percent. As a result, diplomatic missions in smaller or lower-priority countries are set to be shut down, with Lesotho listed among those affected.
Other countries on the list include Eritrea, Grenada, the Central African Republic, Luxembourg, the Republic of Congo, Gambia, South Sudan, Malta, and the Maldives.
Sources indicate that under the proposed plan, diplomatic responsibilities in these countries will be transferred to U.S. embassies in neighboring nations. This means that U.S. affairs related to Lesotho could be managed from Pretoria, South Africa, where a larger U.S. diplomatic presence is already established.
While the proposal is still under review, the news has raised concerns about the future of bilateral relations and direct diplomatic engagement between the U.S. and Lesotho. The U.S. mission in Lesotho has historically played a key role in supporting development initiatives, health programs, and economic partnerships.
There has been no official statement yet from the U.S. Embassy in Maseru or from the Government of Lesotho regarding the proposed closure. However, observers note that if implemented, the change could impact not only diplomatic ties but also services such as visa processing and consular assistance currently available to Basotho citizens.
