German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier concludes his four-day trip to Africa on Saturday with a visit to Lesotho.
Steinmeier’s visit is the first by a German president to the small mountainous country in South Africa.
The trip follows an invitation from King Letsie III, which was extended last year during a visit to Berlin.
Steinmeier’s visit to Lesotho follows discussions in South Africa with President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday.
Since gaining independence from Britain in 1966, Lesotho has suffered from political instability.
Justice, public services and security services suffer from corruption and abuse of power, with crucial reforms systematically undermined by political elites, analysts say.
Many villages remain accessible only on foot or on horseback.
The country is highly dependent on its large neighbor South Africa and due to limited employment opportunities, many residents have been seeking work in South Africa for decades, especially in mining.
Lesotho’s economy is mainly dependent on agriculture and the export of textiles, diamonds and water.
