Free article preview  

The form and content of the Commonwealth are changing. The growing interest in the economic role of an organisation whose members include some of the most dynamic economies in Asia and Africa coincides with the election of a Secretary General from Asia's second biggest economy, India. Commonwealth ties will be important next year when India organises its 'Year of Africa'.

The Commonwealth, as always, tried to present a new face at its Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kampala on 23-25 November, hosted by Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni. The leaders chose a new Secretary General, Kamalesh Sharma (see Box), whose appointment could mark India's greater assertiveness on the international stage. There was also an unusually high attendance by new leaders - 17 new faces, duly entertained to lunch by the Head of the Commonwealth, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. African heads of state turned out in force and the strong presence of Rwanda was intriguing....

(This article contains approximately 1299 words)

end of free article preview

Current subscribers: log in now to read the complete article. Misplaced your password? Then click here for a password reminder.

Not a subscriber? Then you can read this article in full either by becoming a subscriber now, for 3, 6 or 12 months, or you can buy this individual article.

  • Subscribe to Africa Confidential:
  • Buy this article:
  • 3-month subscription
    Prices from £205.00 (+ VAT where applicable)
    6-month subscription
    Prices from £376.00 (+ VAT where applicable)
    12-month subscription
    Prices from £705.00 (+ VAT where applicable)
  • UK & European Union
    £17.00 (+ VAT where applicable)
    Rest of the world
    $27.00

  • If you have a print subscription already, click here for a password that gives you full access to the website.
  • If you are logged in, but still cannot access the full text of this article, email customer services or telephone us on +44(0)1638 743633.

Keywords:

Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, Kamalesh Sharma, India', Britain, Elizabeth, Rwanda, Kenya, Australia, Kevin Rudd, John Howard,, Don McKinnon, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Thabo Mbeki, South Africa, Malta, Nelson Mandela, Morgan Tsvangirai, HOTFOOT FROM HARARE, Gordon Brown, Manmohan Singh, Nigerian, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, German, Canada, Stephen Harper, Indonesia, Tuvalu, Maldives, Cyprus, Rwanda', Paul Kagame, Trinidad and, Tobago, Algeria, Madagascar, Yemen,