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