Lesotho declares state of disaster over rising unemployment
The government of Lesotho has declared a national state of disaster due to rising youth unemployment and economic instability, driven by uncertainty over U.S. trade tariffs and potential loss of AGOA benefits. The declaration, effective until 30 June 2027, allows emergency resource mobilization and accelerated job creation efforts under the Disaster Management Act.
Youth unemployment in Lesotho has surged to nearly 50%, far above the national average of 30%. The country’s textile sector, heavily reliant on U.S. trade, has been hit hard by a 10% baseline tariff and fears surrounding the non-renewal of AGOA by September 2025. A temporary 50% tariff imposed by President Donald Trump in April worsened the crisis before being paused. If AGOA lapses, up to 40,000 jobs may be lost in this nation of 2.3 million.
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