THE 63rd Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) convened this week in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly to deliberate on key developments within member states. CMAG, established in 1995, serves as a guardian of the fundamental political values of the Commonwealth, comprising a rotating group of foreign ministers from eight nations representing diverse regions, in addition to the foreign minister of the Commonwealth Chairperson-in-Office, who hosted the preceding Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Chaired by the Hon Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Tourism of Samoa, the meeting on Monday, September 18, 2023, saw the participation of ministers from Barbados, Canada, Ghana, Mauritius, and Rwanda, alongside representatives from Belize, Malaysia, and Malta.

In the CMAG’s final statement, ministers collectively expressed concern regarding the political situation in Gabon, vehemently condemning the unconstitutional removal of the elected government from power. They called for the swift restoration of democracy, lauding the Secretary-General’s timely assessment of the situation and her provision of technical assistance during the transition processes.

The Group extended their gratitude to the Secretary-General for her Good Offices initiative aimed at seeking a democratic resolution to the Gabon crisis. In alignment with the steps outlined in the Millbrook Commonwealth Action Programme on the Harare Declaration, ministers resolved to partially suspend Gabon from the Commonwealth until democracy is restored. This partial suspension encompasses exclusion from Commonwealth Councils and all intergovernmental meetings and events, including ministerial gatherings and CHOGM.

Moreover, ministers emphasised that if Gabon fails to demonstrate acceptable progress within two years, consideration will be given to a full suspension of Gabon from Commonwealth membership. They urged the Secretary-General to maintain her Good Offices engagement with Gabon, including the provision of technical assistance, with the goal of rectifying the situation and facilitating Gabon’s return to democracy.

The Group called upon Gabon, as a Commonwealth member, to uphold the core values and principles of the Commonwealth and to conduct credible elections as soon as possible, within a maximum of two years from August 30, 2023.

Furthermore, the Group issued a strong appeal to Gabon to ensure 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 secretarial support provided by the Commonwealth Secretariat.