BOTSWANA: Troops to withdraw from Lesotho at the end of April

Botswana says that it will remove its troops from Lesotho by the end of April this year.

In a speech to the Botswana National Assembly last week, a copy of which was sent to IRIN, Vice-President Ian Khama said: "It is now the intention of government to withdraw the BDF (Botswana Defence Force) contingent from Lesotho by the end of April."

A spokesperson for the office of the president told IRIN on Wednesday that a small contingent would remain behind to help train the Lesotho Defence Force.

In his speech, Khama said the military intervention in Lesotho had achieved its objectives and the government was satisfied the situation in Lesotho had stabilised enough for the Botswana troops to withdraw.

He said: "There is peace and stability in Lesotho and the constitutionally elected government is in control again. The government and the people of Lesotho have agreed to hold another general election within 15 to 18 months, since the period of intervention."

Khama added that the situation in Lesotho would be kept under review and troops may be redeployed if necessary.

In September last year, Botswana and South Africa sent soldiers into Lesotho as part of joint Southern African Development Community (SADC) force to help quell a rebellion after a dispute had arisen about the outcome of the election.

Last week the South African government told IRIN that it had no immediate plans to withdraw its military contingent from Lesotho ahead of the next election. On Wednesday Marco Boni, a spokesperson for the department of foreign affairs, told IRIN that he had no comment at this stage on the planned pull out of Botswana troops.