2021 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting

The 2021 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, also known as CHOGM, will be the 26th meeting of the heads of government of the Commonwealth of Nations. The meeting was originally scheduled for 26–27 June 2020 preceded by various fora between the 22nd and 25th of June, but has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new date has been announced as the week of 21 June 2021.[2]

26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
CHOGM 2021
Host country Rwanda
Datesweek of 21 June 2021 (postponed from 26–27 June 2020)[1] (postponed)
Venue(s)Kigali Convention Centre
CitiesKigali
ChairPaul Kagame, President of Rwanda
FollowsCHOGM 2018
Precedes27th CHOGM
Key points
Election of Secretary-General, post-COVID-19 recovery

The summit is scheduled to be held in Rwanda. The meeting was originally expected to be held in Malaysia[3] but the decision of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak not to attend CHOGM 2018 due to political uncertainty at home[4] meant that he was unable to formally propose Malaysia as host.[5] It was announced that Commonwealth leaders had accepted Rwanda's offer to host the meeting instead of Fiji which had also made an offer.[5] It will be the first Commonwealth Summit held in a country that is not a former British colony or dominion or the United Kingdom itself.

The position of Commonwealth Chair-in-Office, held by the government leader of the CHOGM host country, will be transferred at the summit from the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to the President of Rwanda, who will hold the post until the 27th CHOGM to be held in Samoa and which was initially scheduled for 2022.[6]

The theme for the meeting is ‘Delivering A Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming’. Five sub-themes have been identified for discussion: Governance and Rule of Law, ICT & Innovation, Youth, Environment and Trade.[7]

Leaders are expected to discuss ways the contemporary Commonwealth can transform societies, in accordance with Commonwealth Charter values of democracy, multilateralism, sustainable development, and empowerment of women and youth.[7]

There is expected to be an attempt by the United Kingdom to deny Patricia Scotland a second term as Commonwealth Secretary-General. The UK is expected to nominate Kenyan diplomat Amina Mohamed for the position, instead.[8]

On 21 April 2020 it was announced by Rwandan president Paul Kagame and Patricia Scotland that CHOGM 2020 has been postponed until at least 2021 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The rescheduled event is still to be held in Kigali.[9][10]

References
  1. https://www.newtimes.co.rw/news/momentum-builds-ahead-chogm-2020-kigali
  2. "CHOGM: Commonwealth heads of government meeting to hold June 2021". Guardian (Nigeria). 28 September 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  3. "Malaysia to host 26th CHOGM in 2020". Malyasiakini. 30 November 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  4. "British envoy hopes Prime Minister will be at Leaders Retreat in London". The Star (Malaysia). 10 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  5. "With 8yr Membership, Rwanda To Host Commonwealth Summit 2020". KT Press. 20 April 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  6. "Our History". The Commonwealth. The Commonwealth. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  7. "Rwanda Confirms Hosting Of CHOGM In 2020". East African Business Week. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  8. "UK fronts Kenya's Amina in Commonwealth top job". The East African. 22 February 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  9. "CHOGM 2020 postponed over coronavirus pandemic". New Times. 21 April 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  10. "Controversial Commonwealth boss has term extended as CHOGM is delayed indefinitely". Sydney Morning Herald. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
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