German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier arrived in Lesotho on Saturday for the last stop on his four-day trip to Africa, meeting Lesotho's King Letsie III in the small mountain country.
“I am honored to be the first German President to visit your wonderful country,” Steinmeier wrote in the guest book at the king's royal palace in the capital Maseru.
The country is located entirely within South Africa. The monarch invited Steinmeier to visit when they met last year in Berlin.
Steinmeier's visit to Lesotho follows talks in South Africa with President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday.
Steinmeier had to change planes for the trip to the kingdom, because the airport in Maseru is too small to accommodate his usual plane with the German government Airbus A350.
The German president was transferred from the airport to the royal palace, where he was served coffee and tea while meeting the king, who warmly welcomed Steinmeier.
Steinmeier noted the country's deep poverty during his one-day visit, and emphasized the importance of development aid, such as a water management project in which Germany is involved.
“Anyone who looks around here can see how imperative it is for us to take care of this country,” Steinmeier said.
Since gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1966, Lesotho has suffered from political instability. The unemployment rate is over 30%, and even higher among young people.
Justice, public services and security agencies suffer from corruption and abuse of power, with vital reforms systematically undermined by political elites, analysts say.
Many towns are still accessible only on foot or on horseback.
The country is very dependent on its large neighbor South Africa and due to the lack of employment opportunities, many residents have sought work in South Africa for decades, especially in mining.
Lesotho's economy is heavily dependent on agriculture and the export of textiles, diamonds and water.
Steinmeier spent three days visiting Nigeria and South Africa, the regional economic powerhouses in southern Africa. In contrast, Lesotho is only a very small trading partner with Germany and has very few natural resources.
He noted, however, that Germany and Lesotho are closer politically on some issues than powers in the region such as South Africa: “Lesotho, for example, has a war of aggression against Russia to criticize Ukraine from the very beginning.”
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier attends a wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial to Moshoeshoe I. Steinmeier visits Nigeria, South Africa and Lesotho on his four-day trip to Africa. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier signs the guest book at the royal palace of King Letsie III of Lesotho. Steinmeier will visit Nigeria, South Africa and Lesotho on his four-day trip to Africa. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
