2020 CHOGM in Rwanda

Monday, 23 April 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Malaysia pulls out; Rwanda becomes 2nd country to host without colonial past

The leaders of the Commonwealth group of nations on Friday evening decided to hold the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOG) in Rwanda after Malaysia pulled out.

The next Heads of Government meeting will take place in Kigali, Rwanda in 2020 – exact dates have not yet been announced.

Malaysia was due to host the Summit; however, they pulled out after Prime Minister Najib Razak decided not to come to London.

He is thought to have remained in his country due to an upcoming general election. The Malaysian delegation is instead led by Senate president Tan Sri S.A. Vigneswaran.

Rwanda becomes the 6th African nation to host the coveted meeting.

The first African country to host Common Wealth Heads of Government meeting was Zambia in 1979 followed by Zimbabwe (1991), South Africa (1999), Nigeria 2003 and Uganda 2007

The country became a member of the Commonwealth in 2009 and was only the second country to be admitted without a British colonial past or constitutional link to Britain.

It is extremely unlikely that The Queen will make the journey to the Rwandan capital city of Kigali in 2020.

On Friday with the confirmation that Prince Charles would become the next Head of the Commonwealth once the Queen’s reign comes to an end, and with an announcement of her foreign travels to be cut down, it is most likely that it would be Prince Charles attending the 2020 CHOGM.

The Prince of Wales represented her at the 2013 CHOGM held in Sri Lanka. (CI)