Is the Commonwealth losing its way?
Expansion Stalls, Ambitions Fade
For a bloc founded on shared values and post-colonial cooperation, the Commonwealth has largely stood still since the mid-1990s. Only four countries joined in the past 30 years:
Mozambique (1995)
Rwanda (2009)
Togo & Gabon (2022)
Despite interest from Algeria and South Sudan, momentum is stalling. Algeria, a Francophone North African powerhouse, has signalled exploratory interest, but questions remain about alignment with Commonwealth norms. Timor-Leste and Cambodia have not formally applied, though observers speculate potential diplomatic overtures in ASEAN-aligned contexts. And Zimbabwe seeks to rejoin again.
Fresh Faces? Familiar Challenges?
King Charles III succeeded Queen Elizabeth II as Head of the Commonwealth in 2022. The role is symbolic—but under his stewardship, calls for introspection have grown louder. And whether the role automatically is held by the UK monarch.
In April 2025, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey of Ghana became the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the second African and second female to lead the bloc. Her stated priorities include climate resilience, youth empowerment, and a renewed focus on small state diplomacy.
The title is not hereditary by default—it was reaffirmed for Charles by consensus in 2018.
Yet, some critics argue the role perpetuates colonial nostalgia, especially as the Commonwealth expands to include non-Anglophone and non-colonial members like Mozambique, Rwanda, Togo, and Gabon.
Republican Movements: Just 15 of 56 Commonwealth nations retain the UK monarch as head of state with the majority being tiny Carib or Pacific islands. Jamaica, Belize, and others eg Antigua and Solomons have signalled intent to remove the British monarch as head of state, though this doesn’t affect Commonwealth membership. Canada and Oz fiercely debate the role. Barbados became a republic in 2021 and remaining in the Commonwealth
Slavery Reparations: Campaigners argue the monarchy should acknowledge and address its historical ties to slavery, especially in Caribbean nations.
Democratic Legitimacy: Some question why a hereditary monarch leads a bloc that claims to champion democracy and equality.
Reform Proposals
Rotating Headship: Some suggest the Head of the Commonwealth should be elected or rotated among member states.
Decoupling from the Crown: Others propose separating the Commonwealth’s leadership from the British monarchy entirely.
Greater Role for the Secretary-General: With Botchwey’s appointment, there’s growing support for a more empowered executive leadership, especially from African and Pacific nations.
While no formal vote or treaty change is imminent, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua, October/November 2025, is expected to feature lively discussions on governance, symbolism, and reform on the agenda. The monarchy’s role may not be abolished but debate after QE2 is no longer taboo.
Strongmen Within
Though democracy remains a stated ideal, the Commonwealth increasingly shelters authoritarian regimes:
| Country | Leadership | System Type | Democratic Deficit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brunei | Sultan Bolkiah | Absolute monarchy | No elections, absolute rule |
| Eswatini | King Mswati III | Absolute monarchy | Parties banned, dissent crushed |
| Rwanda | Paul Kagame | Presidential republic | Tight control, limited pluralism |
| Uganda | Yoweri Museveni | Presidential republic | In power since 1986, opposition suppressed |
| Cameroon | Paul Biya | Presidential republic | In power since 1982, civic space restricted |
| Gabon | Brice Oligui Nguema | Post-coup republic | Took power via military takeover |
These regimes undermine the Commonwealth’s credibility—and the Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) rarely responds meaningfully, often opting for dialogue over discipline. Pakistan and Fiji frequent suspensions, invariably from coups or term limit breaches, a clear precedent.
Reimagining the Club or Closing Ranks?
The Commonwealth now stands at a moral crossroads. Can it:
Expel dictatorships that contradict its values?
Admit new members whose records clash with its foundational ideals?
Address colonial legacies like slavery with sincerity—not just rhetoric?
For some, the Commonwealth remains haunted by its imperial origins—a club where calls for reparative justice and truth-telling about historic slavery still lack teeth.
Final Thought
Without structural reform, transparent leadership, and a clear values-driven strategy, the Commonwealth risks drifting into irrelevance: more echo chamber than engine of change. Expelling rogue members, welcoming genuinely democratic newcomers, and reckoning with the past might be the only way forward.
Can it reinvent itself as a truly values-driven bloc, or remain a symbolic echo of Empire?
Will new members ever join without significant reform? South Sudan and Zimbabwe remain in limbo, and global interest is waning.
In a world of muscular blocs—EU, ASEAN, AU—the Commonwealth risks becoming less a force for good, and more a club of contradictions. All the more important in Global Climate Chaos impacting the Carib and Pacific islands such as Vanuatu, and the huge Youth populations (60% of 2.6BN Commw citizens) in Africa a demographic and Trade contrast to Ageing Europe.
If the Commonwealth wants relevance in the 21st century, it must make difficult choices. Otherwise, it will continue to drift—led by platitudes, populated by strongmen, and remembered more for nostalgia than progress.
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