President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a message of congratulations to the Government and people of the Kingdom of Lesotho on the occasion commemorating the 50^th independence anniversary of that country.

October 4 is observed as the independence day of Lesotho every year. The Present Lesotho, then called Basutoland, emerged as a single polity under King Moshoeshoe I in 1822. Basutoland gained its independence from Britain and became the Kingdom of Lesotho in 1966.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, in her message to His Majesty King Lestsie III, King of the Kingdom of Lesotho, President Johnson Sirleaf on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia, and in her own name, extended warmest congratulations to the Government and people of Lesotho as they observe this historic event.

President Sirleaf added that as Lesotho celebrates its 50^th Independence Anniversary, she looks forward to strengthening the excellent bilateral ties between both Lesotho and Liberia, for the mutual benefit of their respective peoples.

“As we work together in furtherance of the principles of the African Union and the United Nations aimed at promoting peace, security and cooperation among all nations, I pray that you will be endowed with abundant wisdom and strength as you lead your compatriots to greater prosperity,” President Sirleaf declared.