The Republics of Gabon and Togo are officially members of the Commonwealth

The Republics of Gabon and Togo are officially members of the Commonwealth. The news came after the organization’s 26th summit of heads of state and government on Friday, June 24, 2022 in Kigali, Rwanda. The culmination of a process of careful examination of several areas (governance, economy, social, etc.) which lasted nearly two years.

For Robert Dussey, Togolese Minister of Foreign Affairs, “Togo’s membership is motivated by the desire to extend its diplomatic, political and economic network […] and to get closer to the English-speaking world. […] to redefine bilateral relations with the UK outside the EU after Brexit”. He added that the Commonwealth’s “2.5 billion consumers” represent new opportunities, particularly in economic, geopolitical and educational terms.

“Gabon’s membership of the Commonwealth is recognition of the increasingly important role played by Gabon on the international scene, in particular on the climate issue where our country is on the front line,” declared the Gabonese President. , Ali Bongo, satisfied with the diplomatic prospects that are open.

Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, meanwhile said that the interest of new members in the organization is proof that the latter is doing well. As a reminder, Gabon and Togo are the first countries to join the Commonwealth since Rwanda in 2009, and now bring the number of members to 56.