Pakalitha Mosisili vs Yoon Suk Yeol

Mosisili became Prime Minister after the 1998 general election, which was disputed and led to political instability. His Lesotho Congress for Democracy party won a majority, but allegations of fraud prompted intervention by Southern African Development Community forces.

Mosisili signed the treaty with South Africa to implement the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, a major infrastructure scheme transferring water to South Africa and generating hydroelectric power for Lesotho. The project became a key economic driver but faced corruption allegations.

After 14 years in power, Mosisili's party lost the 2012 general election to a coalition led by Tom Thabane. He accepted defeat and stepped down, marking a rare peaceful transfer of power in Lesotho's history.

Mosisili returned as Prime Minister after winning the 2015 snap election, forming a coalition government. His return followed the collapse of Thabane's government amid political infighting and instability.

Mosisili resigned as Prime Minister after losing a no-confidence vote in parliament. His coalition government collapsed due to internal divisions, leading to another snap election which he lost to Tom Thabane.

Yoon Suk Yeol, a former prosecutor general, won the 2022 presidential election by a narrow margin, defeating Lee Jae-myung. His campaign focused on conservative policies, anti-corruption, and a tougher stance on North Korea.

Yoon announced a shift from the engagement policies of previous administrations, adopting a more confrontational approach towards North Korea. He emphasized denuclearization and strengthening the US-ROK alliance, including joint military exercises.

Yoon's government proposed labor reforms including extending the maximum workweek to 69 hours, sparking massive protests from unions and young workers. The plan was later withdrawn after public backlash.

Yoon made a state visit to the US, where he and President Biden issued the Washington Declaration, strengthening extended deterrence against North Korea. The visit included agreements on nuclear planning and technology cooperation.