A rights organization has revealed that the Lesotho security forces have a “dangerous pattern” of mistreatment that includes torturing and illegal killings.
Police allegedly killed and injured students at a protest in June, according to Amnesty International.
A man died in suspicious circumstances while in detention last year.
The security forces have been accused of torturing suspects by beating them with spades and repeatedly pouring cold water on their faces while their limbs are bound.
The police have blamed “rogue elements” for the abuse. One legal firm in the capital Maseru is pursuing 58 cases of alleged police brutality recorded in the past four years.
Amnesty has tweeted its report:
Lesotho: Authorities must tackle police brutality, torture and unlawful killings before and after election https://t.co/svGqrODaQG
— AmnestySouthernAfrica (@AmnestySARO) September 28, 2022