Lesotho

 
Pronunciation: /ləˈsuːtuː/
  • a landlocked mountainous country forming an enclave in South Africa; population 2,130,800 (est. 2009); official languages, Sesotho and English; capital, Maseru.

The region was settled by the Sotho people in the 16th century, coming under British rule (as Basutoland) in 1868. The country became an independent kingdom within the Commonwealth in 1966, changing its name to Lesotho