His first posting was to the independent kingdom of Basutoland (present-day Lesotho), where the PEMS had been established since 1833. When Coillard reached Cape Town on 6 November 1857, it was the eve of a war between Basutoland and the Boer republic of the Orange Free State; during the war, the French mission stations in Basutoland were destroyed. Coillard’s first task was to open a new station at Leribe.
Coillard's first assignment was to the independent kingdom of Basutoland (present-day Lesotho), where the PEMS had been operating since 1833.  His arrival in Cape Town coincided with a war between Basutoland and the Boer republic of the Orange Free State, during which French mission stations were destroyed. Coillard's initial task was to establish a new station at Leribe.