Final answer:
Lesotho is the world's southernmost landlocked country, with a constitutional monarchy and its capital at Maseru. It was formerly known as Basutoland before gaining independence in 1966.
Step-by-step explanation:
The world's southernmost landlocked country is Lesotho, which is a small constitutional monarchy with its capital at Maseru. Lesotho is entirely surrounded by South Africa and is notable for its elevation, with much of the country sitting over one mile above sea level. It gained independence from British colonial rule in 1966, transitioning from the name Basutoland to the Kingdom of Lesotho. Despite facing challenges such as political unrest and economic instability, Lesotho maintains its monarchy in a ceremonial capacity, with the government led by a prime minister.