Latest content: Democracy, government and law

Rwandan President Paul Kagame lights a memorial flame at the Kigali Genocide Memorial

Today, Rwanda is one of Africa's fast-growing economies and is seen as a model for sustainable growth and resilience. However, thirty years ago, the world’s attention was focused on Rwanda because of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, shocking mass killings where it is estimated that almost a million Rwandans died. 

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, has echoed the concern of His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, after President Nicolás Maduro of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela promulgated the Organic Law for the Defence of Essequiba on 3 April 2024.   

Established in Gabarone in 2013, the Commonwealth Africa Anti-Corruption Centre (CAACC) was created to support governments across the continent in their efforts to curb corruption.

Millions of Commonwealth citizens will benefit from improved people-centred access to justice as law ministers concluded their meeting in Zanzibar today with a package of new measures and pledges.

Ground-breaking government initiatives from Kenya and Rwanda have won the inaugural Commonwealth Access to Justice Innovation Awards for improving access to legal services for vulnerable people.

The 2024 Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting opened in Zanzibar yesterday with calls for stronger action to ensure that access to justice becomes a reality for all 2.5 billion Commonwealth citizens.

The Commonwealth Secretariat and the African Union have renewed their call for a reform of the global financial architecture to improve Africa’s access to international finance.

The Kingdom of Eswatini, nestled in Southern Africa, has reinforced its commitment to its UN human rights obligations with a capacity-building workshop delivered by the Commonwealth Secretariat.

The United Republic of Tanzania is all set to welcome ministers and attorneys-general to the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting, which will open in Zanzibar on 4 March 2024.

Judges in Papua New Guinea have commended a new Commonwealth training course aimed at upskilling them to handle cybercrime cases and make the internet safer for their citizens.

The Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) released a statement on its preliminary findings at a press conference in Islamabad, while awaiting the release of complete results from the Electoral Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The observers called for patience and restraint as the results process is finalised.

The polls have opened in Pakistan’s general elections, with the Commonwealth observing every step of the electoral process.

The Chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has condemned the recent fatal attacks in Pakistan, in the run-up to the general elections.

A Commonwealth team, led by former Nigerian President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, will be deployed to Pakistan to observe the general elections scheduled for 8 February 2024. At the request of the Election Commission of Pakistan, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a 13-member Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) is due to arrive in Islamabad on 1 February and will remain in the country until the electoral process is completed.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, called on all political and civic leaders in Bangladesh to contribute to a conducive environment for citizens to peacefully exercise their right to vote.  

Former Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Hon Bruce Golding, will lead a ten-person Commonwealth Expert Team (CET) assigned to observe the Bangladesh general elections, to be held on 7 January 2024. Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, following an invitation from the Bangladesh Election Commission, appointed the cross-functional team of experts.

Election management professionals in African nations have been equipped with the skills to strengthen the credibility, transparency and inclusiveness of electoral processes.

The Commonwealth Ministerial Group on Guyana (CMGG) met on Monday, 11 December 2023, to discuss recent developments in the border dispute between Guyana and Venezuela. 

At a recent workshop in South Africa, an initial draft of the Commonwealth Military Justice Principles was prepared by judges, legal experts, academics, and military professionals.

Commenting on the recent decision by the International Court of Justice, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, said: