Zimbabwe has applied to re-join the Commonwealth. The proposal came in a letter dated 9 May to Secretary-General Patricia Scotland from Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
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Zimbabwe begins process to re-join Commonwealth; observers invited to July elections
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The Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, has congratulated Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad following successful elections in Malaysia on 9 May.
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Peaceful transition in Malaysia commended
Campaigners from Africa have called for more action to end ‘harmful practices’, such as female genital mutilation (FGM) and child, early and forced marriage (CEFM), which they say remain ‘shamefully widespread’.
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Campaigners call for prevention and eradication of harmful practices
New guidelines for Commonwealth election observation have been agreed and released at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) today - the first such update in 27 years.
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Updated observation guidelines for Commonwealth elections
As counting gets under way in earnest following Sierra Leone's presidential run-off on Saturday, Commonwealth observers have said the election was 'credible and transparent'.
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Sierra Leone: Presidential run-off was 'credible and transparent'
Sierra Leoneans are today electing a new president in a run-off between Dr Samura Kamara of the All Peoples Congress (APC) and Julius Maada Bio of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP).
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Sierra Leoneans vote for a new president
Following yesterday’s general election in Antigua and Barbuda, the chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group has said she is satisfied a democratic poll has been delivered.
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Antigua and Barbuda election: ‘a democratic success’
The Commonwealth Observer Group arrived in the country on March 16 and have met with the Prime Minister, the electoral commission, representatives of political parties, civil society representatives, media organisations and domestic and international observer groups.
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Observer group ready for Antigua and Barbuda election
A former Foreign Minister from The Bahamas, Janet Bostwick, will lead a team of Commonwealth observers to Antigua and Barbuda for the country’s general election next week.
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The Commonwealth to observe general election in Antigua and Barbuda
As the ballot count continues to determine the result of Sierra Leonne’s general election, the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) today held a press conference in the capital Freetown and released an interim statement.
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Sierra Leone election observer group declares vote “credible and transparent”
Voting is now under way in Sierra Leone as the West African nation elects presidential, parliamentary and local government leaders to serve for the next five years.
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Polls open in Sierra Leone elections
With just a few days to go before Sierra Leone holds general elections, Commonwealth observers have visited cities and towns across the West Africa country.
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Sierra Leone observer group prepares for election day
Members of the Commonwealth Election Observation Review Group are meeting at the Commonwealth’s headquarters in London this week to review observation guidelines that were first drafted 27 years ago.
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Senior officials review election observation guidelines
Commonwealth observers will arrive in Sierra Leone next week in advance of the forthcoming general election on March 7.
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Observer group deployed to cover Sierra Leone elections
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, continues to monitor developments in Kenya following general elections held on 8 August 2017 to elect a President and Members of Parliament. These elections were observed by the Commonwealth.
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The Commonwealth stands ready to support Kenya
Commonwealth peace envoy Ibrahim Gambari has praised Zambian president Edgar Lungu and the leader of the main opposition political party Hakainde Hichilema for their “unwavering commitment” to political dialogue in the country.
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Commonwealth peace envoy lauds political dialogue in Zambia
The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy to Zambia, Ibrahim Gambari, concluded his four day visit to the country with a news conference calling for continued mutual respect to help build confidence and trust.
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Special envoy to Zambia concludes latest visit
The Commonwealth Secretary-General’s Special Envoy to Zambia, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, will travel to Zambia for a four-day visit from 23-27 November.
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Commonwealth Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari to visit Zambia
Tonga’s national parliamentary elections were fair and peaceful, according to Commonwealth election observers.
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Tonga elections conducted peacefully, say observers
Secretary-General Patricia Scotland will deploy a Commonwealth Observer Group to observe general elections in Tonga, scheduled for 16 November 2017. This follows a formal invitation from the Government of Tonga.
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Commonwealth to observe general elections in Tonga
Secretary-General Patricia Scotland yesterday received Hakainde Hichilema, leader of the main opposition political party in Zambia, who paid a courtesy call on her at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London.
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Secretary-General commits to ongoing Zambia assistance
The Commonwealth Ministers Action Group (CMAG) has been meeting on the margins of the United Nations in New York.
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Commonwealth ministers commend Secretary-General on political leadership
The Commonwealth will create a national mechanism to support Zambia’s peace dialogue, special envoy Professor Ibrahim Gambari announced in a statement last week.
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Commonwealth to set up national “mechanism” for Zambia peace dialogue
The Commonwealth Secretary-General’s Special Envoy to Zambia, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, has arrived in Lusaka for a one-week visit
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Commonwealth Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari arrives in Zambia
The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Peter O’Neil, has formally received the Commonwealth Observer Group report on the 2017 election, held in June-July.
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Papua New Guinea receives report of the Commonwealth Observer Group