Washington, DC - Secretary of State John Kerry: "The United States congratulates the people of Lesotho for participating peacefully in Lesotho’s snap parliamentary election on February 28.

"The U.S. Embassy deployed 18 American and Basotho staff as observers to six of Lesotho’s ten districts, where they witnessed the opening, voting, closing, and counting in approximately 80 polling stations. Every vote counts and every vote was a victory for Lesotho.

"The United States shares the hopes of the Basotho that these elections will allow Lesotho to move beyond a period of political uncertainty and strengthen national unity. This commitment is essential to provide a foundation for an effective, accountable government that serves the needs of the people.

"We commend Lesotho’s Independent Electoral Commission for organizing a professional and well-run poll, especially in light of the compressed timeline. We encourage all candidates and political parties to accept the election results when they are announced and to call on their supporters to do so as well.

"The Southern African Development Community (SADC) deserves great credit for supporting Lesotho’s peaceful election. We welcome SADC’s ongoing commitment to helping Lesotho strengthen its democratic institutions and rule of law.

"The United States remains committed to our strong partnership with Lesotho and to achieving our shared objectives of improved health, shared prosperity, and effective and accountable government." ~ John Kerry