Lesotho, formerly known as Basutoland, is a small landlocked country located in Southern Africa. It is bordered by South Africa to the south and east, and by the Kingdom of Eswatini to the west. Lesotho gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1966 and is now a sovereign state. It is the only country in the world that is entirely surrounded by another country. Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and the African Union.