The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005). See also the corresponding entry in the current edition of Ethnologue.
SIL code: LES
ISO 639-2: ssa
| Population | 50,000 (1991 SIL). |
| Region | Orientale Province, Watsa, Djugu, Irumu, and Mambasa territories. |
| Alternate names | LESA, LESSE, LISSI, WALISI, WALESE, BALESE, MBUTI |
| Dialects | LESE KARO, ARUMBI (UPSTREAM LESE), NDESE (LESE DESE), VUKUTU (VONKUTU, OBI), FARE. |
| Classification | Nilo-Saharan, Central Sudanic, East, Mangbutu-Efe. |
| Comments | Closely related to Mamvu, Bendi, Mangbutu, and Efe. Congo Swahili (Kingwana) and Bangala are the lingua francas, but their use is somewhat limited, especially among the women. Agriculturalists. Traditional religion, Christian. |
