On 15 June 2025, Ts’olo “Tjekatjeka” Thakeli, a youth social media activist from Teyateyaneng in Berea District, was arbitrarily arrested by heavily armed police officers following his public criticism of the government of Lesotho. The previous day, Thakeli had posted a Facebook video highlighting urgent issues including youth unemployment, corruption at the Lesotho Electricity Company, and rising electricity costs affecting vulnerable communities. The police raided his home without a warrant or jurisdictional authority, detained him without informing him of any charges, interrogated him unlawfully, and confiscated his mobile phone without justification and released him.
Later that evening, despite a lack of criminal evidence, Thakeli was again arrested after posting another video criticising the government. He was held in detention for two nights under harsh winter conditions, deprived of basic necessities but he was still not charged until he was released on 17 June. His arrest and treatment constitute serious violations of his constitutional and internationally protected rights to freedom of expression and protection from unlawful arrest and detention. The incident reflects a troubling pattern of state repression against human rights defenders and activists in Lesotho. The arbitrary nature of the arrest, the conditions of detention, and the targeting of a peaceful critic raise significant concerns about respect for human rights and rule of law in the country.
The arrest signals a deterioration of the enabling environment, as it is the first time under the current administration that a civic actor on a social media platform has faced such charges. The timing appears calculated to send a message to the youth to refrain from criticising the government. Thakeli has just appeared before the Magistrate’s Court in Teyateyaneng, charged with inciting public violence and disturbing national peace.