EU Electoral Follow-up Mission Engages Lesotho Leadership on Reform Progress

On Tuesday, 18 November 2025, the Chief of the European Union Electoral Follow-up Mission (EFM), Honourable Andreas Schieder, paid a courtesy call on the Right Honourable the Prime Minister of Lesotho. Honourable Schieder, a Member of the European Parliament, leads the EU’s principal electoral mission, succeeding Honourable Ignazio Corrao, who headed the 2022 EU Election Observation Mission (EU EOM).

The mission is in Lesotho from 18–21 November 2025 to evaluate progress on the 21 recommendations issued in the 2022 EU EOM Final Report. Honourable Schieder is supported by two electoral experts: Ms. Renata Tardioli, serving as Legal Analyst, and Mr. Armin Rabitsch, who acted as Deputy Chief Observer in the 2022 mission.

During the visit, the mission will engage with government institutions, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), political parties, and civil society. The goal is to assess reforms implemented since the 2022 mission and examine the broader political and legislative environment affecting electoral processes.

European Union Support for Lesotho’s Electoral Reform

The European Union continues to back Lesotho’s electoral reform agenda through the €4 million “Inclusive Lesotho” Programme, running from 2025 to 2028. The programme targets key areas to strengthen democracy and citizen engagement:

• Strengthening civic and voter education
• Promoting inclusive political participation
• Enhancing electoral administration and ICT systems
• Supporting transparency in political finance

The programme is implemented in partnership with International IDEA, UNDP, the IEC, government ministries, and civil society. Its objective is to foster a more inclusive, transparent, and credible electoral process in Lesotho, ensuring that citizens have access to fair and accountable governance.

The EFM’s engagement reflects the EU’s ongoing commitment to supporting Lesotho’s democratic development. By assessing reforms and advising on improvements, the mission seeks to strengthen electoral integrity, encourage broad political participation, and consolidate public trust in the electoral system.