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| a. Lesotho |
| 1960–66 |
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| The Basutoland African Congress (later renamed the Basotho Congress Party or BCP), led by Ntsu Mokhehle, campaigned for independence. More conservative parties, such as Chief Leabua Jonathan's Basutoland National Party (renamed, on independence, the Basotho National Party or BNP), supported by chiefs and elders, also supported independence. | 1 |
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| 1966, Oct. 4 |
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| Lesotho became independent. The BCP led the opposition to incorporation into South Africa, which had been posed as an alternative. The BNP, however, won 31 seats to the BCP's 25, and Chief Jonathan became prime minister. | 2 |
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| 1966–67 |
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| Jonathan reduced King Moshoeshoe II's influence to a ceremonial role, pursued good relations with South Africa, and was antisocialist. | 3 |
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| 1970, Jan |
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| Jonathan banned opposition parties and put the king under house arrest to prevent an electoral victory by the BCP. The move was supported by South Africa. | 4 |
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| 1980 |
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| After years of pro–South African policies, Jonathan made Lesotho a member of the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC) and started to take an antiapartheid stance. South Africa, in return, began to support guerrilla opposition to Jonathan's government by the Lesotho Liberation Army (LLA), the armed wing of the banned BCP. | 5 |
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| 1982, Dec. 9 |
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| The South African Defence Force launched a raid into the capital, Maseru, killing 37 people. South Africa had accused Lesotho of harboring ANC guerrillas. | 6 |
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| 1983 |
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| Lesotho agreed to expel the ANC from the country as a result of a South African blockade. | 7 |
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| 1986, Jan |
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| Maj. Gen. Justin Lekhanya seized power after another blockade by South Africa. Lekhanya banned political parties, restored the role of the monarchy, and adopted a pro–South African stance. | 8 |
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| 1990 |
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| Increasing conflict between Lekhanya and King Moshoeshoe resulted in a political and legislative stalemate. Moshoeshoe went into exile in England. Lekhanya invited Moshoeshoe to return, but he refused until reforms were implemented. | 9 |
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| 1991, April 30 |
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| Col. Elias Phitsoome Ramaema led a coup that ousted Lekhanya from office. | 10 |
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| 1992 |
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| King Moshoeshoe promised to return but failed to. | 11 |
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