In a desperate bid for freedom, incarcerated former army commander Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli has appealed to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) to advocate for his release on bail, citing years of stalled legal proceedings.
A newly released report from the commission reveals that during its visit to Lesotho earlier last year, from January 29 to February 2, Kamoli personally requested its delegation to intervene in his prolonged pre-trial detention.
The commission’s delegation included Commissioner Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Sonoo, the Commissioner Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Lesotho, and the Commission’s Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, who served as the head of the delegation.
Additionally, Commissioner Dr. Litha Musyimi-Ogana, the Chairperson of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities and Minorities in Africa, was part of the delegation.
Musyimi-Ogana also chairs the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of People Living with HIV and Those at Risk, Vulnerable to, and Affected by HIV.
The mission was further supported by Eva Heza from the commission’s secretariat.
“The Delegation toured the maximum correctional wing, which held ten (10) individual cells housing inmates accused of high-profile crimes, such as an inmate accused of organ harvesting,” the delegation noted in the report.
It stated that during the visit, it had the opportunity to interview Kamoli.
It said: “Mr. Kamoli told the Delegation that, despite being arrested in 2017 on treason charges, he had repeatedly been detained bail, whereas his trial had not meaningfully progressed. Mr. Kamoli requested the Delegation to advocate for his release on bail, pending his trial.”
Kamoli has been in pre-trial detention since 2017, with ongoing legal proceedings. His trial has faced multiple delays due to legal challenges and procedural issues.
He was arrested in October 2017. His arrest followed a period of significant political and military turmoil in the country, particularly linked to his alleged involvement in multiple high-profile crimes.
He turned himself in to the police after being summoned, having remained in the country despite knowing he faced serious charges.
This came after he had been retired from the LDF in 2016, though his actions during and after his tenure as army chief had made him a central figure in Lesotho’s instability.
Kamoli was arrested primarily for his alleged role in a series of criminal acts, including the murder of Sub-Inspector Mokheseng Ramahloko.
This charge stems from the events of August 30, 2014, when soldiers under Kamoli’s command raided police stations in Maseru during an alleged attempted coup against Prime Minister Thomas Thabane’s first government.
Ramahloko was fatally shot during the raid on the police headquarters, an operation that was widely seen as an effort to undermine the government after Kamoli was sacked as LDF commander earlier.
He faces attempted murder charges related to the January 2014 bombings of the Moshoeshoe II home of then-First Lady ‘Maesaiah Thabane and the Ha-Abia residence of former Police Commissioner Khothatso Tšooana.
Kamoli is also charged with treason for his role in the 2014 alleged coup attempt, a crime that carries the death penalty in Lesotho.
His alleged refusal to step down after being fired and subsequent military actions, including disarming police stations, were cited as evidence of his intent to overthrow the government.
Kamoli remains in custody at Maseru Maximum Security Prison, having been denied bail multiple times, most recently in February 2024. His legal battles involve several ongoing trials, which have faced repeated delays due to procedural issues, appeals, and logistical challenges.
In its report, the delegation noted that it was informed inmates received three meals a day.
However, it regrettably learned that the budget for feeding inmates had not been increased to accommodate the growing number of inmates. Instead, the budget had been progressively reduced over the years.
“The delegation also toured the garden where vegetables were being grown, and was informed by the Deputy Commissioner that the correctional facility grew enough vegetables to supply other prisons,” it said.
Additionally, the delegation stated that it was informed the Maseru Central Correctional Institution (MCCI) comprises four blocks, housing 699 inmates, with 222 prison officers.
“The Delegation was informed that the facility has five (5) blocks, including a wing to house inmates sentenced to death, which was currently empty given that there were no inmates sentenced to death at the time of the visit,” it said.
Ntsoaki Motaung is an award-winning health journalist from Lesotho, specializing in community health stories with a focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as HIV. She has contributed to platforms like “Be in the KNOW,” highlighting issues such as the exclusion of people with disabilities from HIV prevention efforts in Lesotho.
In addition to her journalism, Ntsoaki serves as the Country Coordinator for the Regional Media Action Plan Support Network (REMAPSEN). She is also a 2023 CPHIA Journalism Fellow.
