Russia – Lesotho Relations: A Partnership Built on Respect and Shared Values

On 1 February 2026, the Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Lesotho marked the 46th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. This significant milestone provides an opportunity to reflect on the path our two countries have undertaken together and to look ahead to the promising prospects for deeper mutually beneficial cooperation.

Diplomatic relations between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), of which Russia was a constituent republic, and the Kingdom of Lesotho were established on 1 February 1980. In the mid-1980s, the two countries concluded several agreements covering cultural, scientific, economic, technical, and media cooperation. During this period, the Soviet Embassy in Maseru played an important role in strengthening bilateral ties by facilitating political dialogue, supporting educational exchanges, and coordinating joint international initiatives.

More than four decades later, Russia and Lesotho continue to pursue a shared course in developing their relations. On the occasion of the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties, Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation H.E. Mr. Sergey Lavrov and Lesotho’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Hon. Lejone Mpotjoane, exchanged messages reaffirming their mutual interest in expanding cooperation across political, trade-economic, and other areas, as well as in strengthening coordination on key international issues.

Despite the geographical distance between our countries, Russia and Lesotho have consistently demonstrated a high degree of mutual understanding. From the outset, our relations have been grounded in sincere friendship, respect for sovereignty, and adherence to international law. They have never been burdened by a colonial legacy or shadowed by attempts to impose external development models.

As President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on several occasions noted, “We have virtually no disagreements with African countries, and the level of trust and mutual affinity is high, mainly because our relations with Africa have never been tarnished. We have never been involved in the exploitation of African peoples.” This historical reality continues to shape Russia’s approach to cooperation with Africa in general. That very sentiment continues to shape Russia’s approach towards the Kingdom of Lesotho.

Our country has long attached great importance to developing comprehensive relations with the African states. A major milestone in this direction was the launch of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in 2019. That same year, the first Russia-Africa Summit was held in Sochi, bringing together delegations from all 54 African countries, with more than 40 represented at the level of heads of state and government. The second summit took place in Saint Petersburg in 2023, with official delegations from 48 African countries and five major regional integration associations. Leaders adopted the Action Plan for 2023-2026, outlining key areas of cooperation, and reaffirmed the agreement to hold Russia-Africa summits every three years. The Forum’s work has continued through ministerial conferences, including meetings in Sochi in 2024 and most recently in Cairo in 2025. The Cairo conference, the first held on the African soil, was attended by representatives of 52 African states and eight regional integration bodies. Discussions focused on current international and Russia-Africa issues, with particular attention to trade, economic, and investment cooperation and the implementation of the 2023-2026 Action Plan.

Russia also supports strengthening African regional institutions, particularly the African Union as the collective voice of the continent. We welcomed the decision for the African Union to join the G20 in 2023 as a reflection of contemporary global realities. Russia further supports expanding Africa’s representation in United Nations bodies, including through Security Council reform, to address long-standing historical injustices.

The Russian Federation considers promoting mutually beneficial economic relations with the African countries as one of the key priorities. Unlike many Western countries, we have never viewed Africa merely as a source of raw materials. Our country prioritizes long-term investment projects aimed at economic development, industrial growth, and improved living standards across the continent. In 2024, trade between Russia and Africa exceeded 27 billion US dollars and continues to grow steadily on year-to-year basis. The transition to the payment system in the national currencies and the development of new transport and logistics routes will further expand and diversify trade. And we look forward to increasing our cooperation projects with the Kingdom of Lesotho.  

Russia offers various initiatives in energy, mineral resource management, transport, infrastructure, and advanced technologies, including digital solutions and artificial intelligence. All of these are designed with a long-term perspective and long-term benefits. History provides a strong example: the Soviet Union assisted African countries in building more than 300 industrial and infrastructure facilities and educated over 80,000 African students, helping to establish educational, scientific, and medical institutions across the continent. This contribution laid the groundwork for national industries and skilled professional communities in many countries.

Food security remains one of the most pressing global challenges. Russia makes a consistent contribution to addressing this issue in Africa through regular supplies of grain, fertilizers, and fuel, including the urgent humanitarian deliveries. In recent years, 200,000 tons of Russian wheat and more than 100,000 tons of fertilizers have been donated to the African countries in need. We also actively work through the UN World Food Programme, allocating millions of US dollars annually for the food assistance.

Beyond humanitarian aid, Russia supports African partners in developing their own agricultural sectors by sharing expertise in crop production, livestock farming, irrigation, fisheries, and fertilizer manufacturing. Africa possesses enormous agricultural potential and is fully capable of ensuring its own food security. Russia stands ready to share relevant experience with its African friends. We believe that the Kingdom of Lesotho could be interested in Russian experience and technologies to increase Lesotho’s agricultural output.

The educational exchanges occupy a special place in Russia-Africa relations. Continuing a tradition established during the 1960s-1990s by the USSR, Russia prioritizes the training of national professionals. Since 2020, the number of African students studying in Russia has doubled to 32,000, while government scholarship quotas now exceed 5,300 places. We would warmly welcome more students from the Kingdom of Lesotho to Russian universities, especially in fields related to sustainable development.

Russia and the Kingdom of Lesotho often share similar positions on key international issues. We stand united by a firm commitment to genuine sovereignty and the right of states to pursue their own development paths free from external pressure. The ideals of freedom, independence, and sovereignty that once inspired Africa’s struggle against colonialism remain highly relevant today.

In this context, it is worth recalling the words of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov from his article “Russia-Africa: New Horizons for Old Friends,” published in Lesotho Times on 18 December 2025. He noted that Africa’s historic struggle for decolonization has evolved into a modern effort to ensure sovereignty across all spheres of national life. Russia fully supports this aspiration and consistently advocates, at the United Nations and other international fora, for the eradication of all forms of neo-colonialism. The international movement “For the Freedom of Nations!”, established on the initiative of the United Russia Party and bringing together political parties from more than 50 countries, provides a valuable platform for coordinating such multilateral efforts, with many African states already participating. We also highly appreciate Lesotho’s support for Russian-initiated and co-sponsored United Nations General Assembly resolutions, including those combating the glorification of Nazism and establishing 14 December as the International Day against Colonialism in All Its Forms and Manifestations.

As Russia and Lesotho marked the 46th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, they did so with confidence and optimism. A strong foundation has been laid for expanding political dialogue, deepening economic ties, and strengthening humanitarian cooperation. I am confident that the friendship between the Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Lesotho will continue to develop in a constructive and mutually beneficial spirit, contributing to sustainable development, regional stability, and a more just, truly multipolar world.