Multiple laws, including the Sedition Proclamation No. 44 of 1938 and the Internal Security (General) Act of 1984 prohibit criticism of the government, provide penalties for seditious libel, and endanger reporters’ ability to protect the confidentiality of their sources. MEDIA AND ELECTIONS Early Elections Lesotho held a general election on 28 February for all 120 seats of the National Assembly - the lower house of the Parliament of Lesotho - more than two years ahead of schedule. The events that led to this early election climaxed on August 30, 2014 when Lesotho’s capital city Maseru witnessed radio stations including the government owned Radio Lesotho, going off-air, several police stations being taken over and the residence of the Prime Minister and one of the three coalition leaders being surrounded by the army. 30 So This is Democracy? 2015 Lesotho has had its disproportionate share of troubles over the years ranging from coups, the banning of political parties, a constitutional crisis, attacks on opposition members, discord between the police and army to a reported coup attempt in 2014. The attempted military coup on August 30, by Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli to oust Prime Minister Thomas Thabane, not only created political instability, but also impacted greatly on freedom of expression and of the media way into 2015. A few months after the General Election leaders of the opposition and some of their members fled to South Africa, claiming their lives were in danger. Tension in the country reached its peak when soldiers were abducted earlier this year. Attempts to get information on their whereabouts proved impossible forcing family members of the missing soldiers to lodge a court application requesting a High Court Order for the Lesotho Defence Force to produce them. They were eventually brought to court, in shackles, accompanied by heavily armed soldiers wearing balaclavas. Midway through the year, the former commander of the Lesotho Army Lieutenant General Maaparankoe Mahao was shot and killed. Mahao, who was appointed army commander in August in 2014, by former premier Thabane, was removed from office by the incumbent Prime Minister, Pakalitha Mosisili. Mahao replaced Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli but was unable to take control of the army after the latter rejected his dismissal. The friction in the security sector continues to affect all citizens and in particular the media sector with many journalists being threatened by either the army or the police.