While welcoming Lesotho into the ARSO membership, we wish to underscore, that from the 1980 Lagos Plan of action, 1991 Abuja Treaty to the AfCFTA Agreement, there has been a forceful effort at streamlining African regulatory frameworks with regards to common standards and the related Conformity Assessment system at the regional and continental levels and this has been an appropriate priority for African leaders, trade and standards policymakers, with a clear goal of obtaining “One Standard-One Market” with a call for the Universal membership of ARSO by the AU Member States.

This critical move by the Government of Lesotho to ascend to ARSO Membership comes within three months after the ARSO Secretary General, Dr. Hermogene Nsengimana, held discussion in Maseru, Lesotho, with Hon. Mokhethi Shelile (below), the Minister of Trade, Industry and Business Development and Mr. Molebatsi Rabolinyane (top right photo) the Chief Executive Officer, Lesotho Standards Institution (LSI) on Lesotho’s journey to ARSO membership & the significant trade benefits through AfCFTA. This was on the sidelines of the joint ARSO-LIS awareness creation event on the Role of Harmonized African Standards in ensuring the Quality and Safety of Agricultural, Textile, and Leather Products, and Capacity Building sessions for the SMEs, held on 15^th and 16th April 2025 at the Lancer’s Inn, Maseru, Lesotho.

The Gambia being the last member to join ARSO in June 2025, as the 43rd ARSO Member State, and having been warmly received by the General Assembly during 31st ARSO General Assembly Week held on 23rd – 27th June 2025 in Zanzibar, Tanzania , Lesotho joins as the 44th ARSO Member State.