Gabon temporally excluded from the commonwealth
►After the coup-Etat recently observed in Gabon,the country was partially suspended from the Commonwealth organization yesterday 19th September 2023 in New York. The decision came out during 63rd meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), which aimed at discussing the development issues in its member states.
Afrique54.net | The Commonwealth group was formed in 1995 to be a custodianof fundamental political values of the Commonwealth. It is made up of a rotating group of foreign ministers from eight countries, drawn from different regions, plus the foreign minister of the Commonwealth Chairperson-in-Office, the host of the previous Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
Five ministers from Barbados, Canada, Mauritius, Rwanda and Ghana took part to that important meeting last Monday 18th 2023 in the USA, chaired by the Hon Fiamè Naomi Mata’afa. The attendance of some other participants like the representative of Belize, Malta and Malaysia was also effective.
Final decision of the CMAG
« Ministers expressed the collective concern of the Commonwealth on the political situation in Gabon, strongly condemned the unconstitutional removal of the elected government from office and called for the restoration of democracy. Ministers commended the Secretary General’s prompt assessment of the situation and technical assistance to the transition processes.
The Group thanked the Secretary-General for her Good Offices in seeking a democratic solution to the situation in Gabon. In accordance with the steps set out in the Millbrook Commonwealth Action Programme on the Harare Declaration, the Ministers decided to partially suspend Gabon from the Commonwealth pending the restoration of democracy. This partial suspension entails suspension from the Councils of the Commonwealth, and the exclusion of Gabon from all Commonwealth intergovernmental meetings and events, including ministerial meetings and CHOGM’’.
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Gabon, temporally suspended from the Commonwealth
After joining the Commonwealth on the 24thjune 2022, the Ministers resoluted that, if adequate progress are not concretely observed in Gabon within two years, the country will be definitely dropped out from the Commonwealth Organization. The secretary General was then Urged by the Ministers and representatives to continue following the diplomacy with the country of late Omar Bongo Ondimba, including providing technical assistance, with a view to redressing the situation and facilitating Gabon’s return to democracy.
‘’The Group called upon Gabon as a Commonwealth member, to uphold the values and principles of the Commonwealth and to hold credible elections as soon as possible and within a maximum of two years from 30 August 2023.
The Group called upon Gabon to guarantee the personal integrity, safety, health and human rights of former President Ali Bongo Ondimba, his family members and members of his Government. »
CMAG meetings are convened by the Commonwealth Secretary-General with the Commonwealth Secretariat providing secretarial support’’.
©Afrique54.net | Joseph Ayangma
