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The Lesotho Defence Force is the state military organisation of Lesotho.
Contents
Lesotho's security forces are composed of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) and the Lesotho Mounted Police Service. The LDF consists of an army, an air wing, and a newly formed paramilitary wing. The LDF is answerable to the Prime Minister through the Ministry of Defence.
The Lesotho Government in 1999 began an open debate on the future structure, size, and role of the armed forces, especially considering the Lesotho Defence Force's (LDF) history of intervening in political affairs.
Army units
Statistics
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 526,332 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 283,203 (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $34 million (1999)
Other security forces
The Lesotho Mounted Police report to the Prime Minister through the ministry of Defense, Police and National Security Service. There also is a National Security Service, Intelligence, which is directly accountable to the Prime Minister. Relations between the police and the army have been tense, and in 1997 the army was called upon to put down a serious police mutiny.