Lesotho is a small, landlocked, and mountainous country, surrounded by South Africa. It gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1966. But the country’s history since independence has seen periods of political turmoil. In January 1970 the ruling Basotho National Party (BNP) appeared set to lose the first post-independence general elections when Prime Minister Leabua Jonathan annulled the election. He refused to cede power to the Basotho Congress Party (BCP) and imprisoned its leadership. The BNP ruled by decree until January 1986 when a military coup forced them out of office. The Military Council that came into power granted executive powers to King Moshoeshoe II, who was until then a ceremonial monarch. In 1990, however, the King was forced into exile after a falling out with the army. His son was installed as King Letsie III. Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after seven years of military rule. In August 1998 violent protests and a military mutiny followed a contentious election, and a military group of South African and Botswana troops entered the country in September, putting down the mutiny and withdrawing in May 1999. Subsequent constitutional reforms restored relative political stability. Peaceful parliamentary elections were held in 2002, but the National Assembly elections of February 2007 were hotly contested and aggrieved parties continue to periodically demonstrate their distrust of the results. Lesotho’s economy has been heavily dependent on neighboring South Africa -- specifically on remittances from miners employed in that country as well as customs duties from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). The harsh environment of the highland plateau and the limited agricultural space in the lowlands has left the nation scarce in resources.