THE WAR OF THE GUNS (1880- 1881)

This was a war fought between the British and the Basuto. This Anglo – Basuto conflict is also called the gun war , the war of disarmament and Anglo – Basuto conflict.

The Basuto were led by Moroosi; chief of the Phuti people and Lerothodi while the British by Sir Gordon Sprigg.

The war was in response to the law that had been passed by the Cape administration requiring the Basuto to handover their guns to the British authorities

The Basuto bitterly resented this measure as they saw no reason for the confiscation of their valuable weapons. But when Governor Sprigg insisted war broke out and the Basuto were victorious.

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