The CHOGM closing ceremony. [photo by Matthe Neuhaus]
[Australian professor and diplomat Matthew Neuhaus is sharing his experiences and insights at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting CHOGM in Apia, Samoa.]
The final day began with Leaders in the Retreat and a group of Ministers and senior officials meeting with civil society representatives in a dialogue curated by the Commonwealth Foundation and ably led by its Director General Anne Gallagher. It was very well attended on both sides and enhanced the sense of a more open CHOGM.
However the thing which was on everyone’s mind was the SG (secretary general) election as the first order of business in the Retreat. The wait was not too long before the news filtered through that Ghana’s Foreign Minister had won.
The Gambian Foreign Minister who was with us quickly stood to announce the news and congratulate Botchwey. He spoke well about the importance of the Commonwealth and his own commitment, as he had earlier in the Foreign Ministers meeting.
We understand there was only one round and Botchwey was well ahead. She may even have got the 34 votes her team were expecting. She ran a good campaign, using Ghana’s more extensive diplomatic network. They focused on securing votes in the Pacific, Caribbean, Asia and key allies of Africa by attending key regional meetings.
Her background as Foreign Minister will assist in the role. She knows she will have to address issues of reform, human rights (including gender inclusivity) and Secretariat resources. Hopefully all Commonwealth will give her support and space.
Returning to the Dialogue. The DSG (deputy secretary general) opened with remarks on the way this session had evolved to now be one in which the Secretariat and Ministers were there to listen to the stakeholders. In a carefully managed approach Anne ensured a wide variety of different voices were heard and responses were received from Governments.
Issues covered included disability, health justice, the Fossil Fuels Non-Proliferation Treaty initiative, indigenous knowledge and climate, gender equality and diversity, and human rights. Canada reiterated its commitment to broaden CMAG’s role. The new UK Minister for the Commonwealth – Lord Collins – stressed the Commonwealth was more than governments – it was its peoples. We needed to hear their voices and respond.
We then moved to a session chaired by Sue Onslow with presentations from CLGF on sustainable urbanisation, the CTU on telecommunications and cyber security, and the CPA. A question and answer session followed and then the lights went out – quite literally. A huge tropical storm had cut the power to the hotel and much of the island.
With many participants needing to head to the airport for the flight out the session had been brought to a premature end. But nevertheless it had been well attended and worthwhile and should continue to be a feature for the future.
Meanwhile back at the Retreat leaders too had been busy. The Communique negotiated language on slavery and reparative justice had its square brackets removed providing a way forward for a respectful process – and one which could become a major issue for UK and the Commonwealth and will become bigger at the next CHOGM in Antigua.
Much of the language in an overly long Communique had been signalled so there were no surprises, and most stakeholders got their references in. Of note is the language provided on Myanmar – of great importance to Bangladesh but also others. Myanmar is still one of the missing Commonwealth souls.
Also of note is the absence of any reference to Zimbabwe. Easiest way to handle it perhaps while the Commonwealth Observer Group Report on the 2023 Elections – only released to governments shortly before CHOGM – is digested by them. But Zimbabwe was not an issue at CHOGM even if it will still haunt us post CHOGM. It’s cause was not helped by Zimbabwe’s Official Spokesman Charamba describing the Commonwealth as “a needless albatross” during CHOGM.
Australia will be pleased with the support for them hosting COP31 with the Pacific in 2026, and they deserve it. Their support to Samoa for hosting CHOGM, the extent of their support to the Commonwealth in new money to expand the Small States Office in Geneva, to the Climate Finance Access hub in Mauritius and for Commonwealth electoral training was significant. This CHOGM has led to a substantial re-engagement with the Commonwealth. Britain’s commitment was also clear.
CMAG (the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group) will now comprise Antigua and Barbuda, Botswana, Canada,Grenada, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius and Zambia with Samoa ex officio as Chair. Not a bad lineup for building up its role.
The Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration is an excellent document providing substantial support to small islands with regard to their boundaries with sea level rise and much more. It provides good language as we move on to the next COP and the ICJ Advisory Opinion.
Another important outcome document is the adoption of the Commonwealth Principles on Freedom of Expression and the Role of the Media – formulated and long championed by organisations like CLA, CHRI, CJA and others.
The Leaders Statement is short and pithy. It pays due respect to the memory of the late Queen Elizabeth and also Sir Sonny Ramphal. It thanks Patricia Scotland in what for her was a good final CHOGM. And it encourages the reform process for the future. One curious addition was the reference to Haiti at the request of Caribbean leaders.
For all its detractors the Commonwealth at 75 is still in good shape. In a world wracked by violent conflict and division from the Middle East, to East Europe to the USA it demonstrates a different world of consensus and respect can exist. It is changing, with small states for whom it provides an ideal forum, playing more of a leading role – and that is good. Samoa did a great job hosting as the first small Pacific island state to do so and PM Fiame will be a committed chair in office. Antigua will no doubt do the same.
This will be last letter from Apia – in fact I am penning it in Fiji en route home. But there will be more think pieces and analysis in association with the Round Table.
It has been good to reconnect with the Commonwealth world again and I would like to thank Commassoc (the Commonwealth Association) for supporting my attendance as your representative, along with the Round Table. It has been a privilege and all former Secretariat staff should feel proud that the professional standards they set are maintained to this day. And at CHOGM the Blue Book continues to rule!
Matthew Neuhaus is the Hon Professor, ANU College of Law, President of the Australian Royal Commonwealth Society and a member of the Round Table’s international advisory board.
