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2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting

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27th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
CHOGM
Host country Samoa
Dates25–26 October 2024
CitiesApia and Mulifanua (retreat)
ChairFiamē Naomi Mataʻafa, Prime Minister of Samoa
Follows2022
Precedes2026
Websitehttps://samoachogm2024.ws
Key points
Election of Secretary-General, Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration (climate change and small states), Commonwealth Principles on Freedom of Expression and the Role of the Media

The 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Samoan: 2024 Fonotaga a Ulu o Malo o le Taupulega), also known as CHOGM 2024, was the 27th meeting of the heads of government of the Commonwealth of Nations. The meeting was held in Samoa from 25–26 October 2024 and was preceded by ministerial meetings, fora and side events which had begun on 21 October 2024.[1][2][3]

The meeting was the first full Commonwealth summit held since the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 and the first presided over by King Charles III as Head of the Commonwealth.[4] It was also the first Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held in a Pacific Small Island Developing State.[5] The King's trip to the South Pacific, which included a tour of Australia prior to the Commonwealth summit in Samoa, was his first major overseas trip since his cancer diagnosis in early 2024.[6]

Theme

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The summit’s theme was “One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth".[4] The stated aim of the meeting was to strengthen "resilient democratic institutions upholding human rights, democracy, and the rule of law".[3] It also claimed to seek to combat climate change, in particular with regard to its impact on small states and island states.[7]

Election of Secretary-General

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There was an election for a new Commonwealth Secretary-General as incumbent Patricia Scotland had indicated in 2022 that she would only serve another two years.[8] Ghanian foreign minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey,[9] Gambian foreign minister Mamadou Tangara, and Senator Joshua Septiba of Lesotho announced their candidacies for the position.[10] All three candidates called for financial reparations or “reparative justice” for countries that have been harmed by slavery or colonialism.[11] Botchwey's was chosen as incoming secretary-general on 26 October.[12]

Climate change

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Leaders attending an executive session of CHOGM at Maota Fono

In his opening address, the King referred to “the existential threat of climate change” as an “urgent challenge”.[13]

Ocean Declaration

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Commonwealth leaders adopted the 'Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration for One Resilient Common Future', which called on all 56 Commonwealth nations to protect the ocean in the face of rising sea levels, pollution and over-exploitation. It called for recognizing maritime boundaries as fixed, even if rising sea levels cause islands to be submerged.[14] According to Reuters, this would mean resources such as fishing grounds would continue to belong to an island state even if it became submerged and its people relocated.[15]

The declaration also called for protecting oceans, restoring degraded marine ecosystems by 2030, finalising the global plastic pollution treaty, ratifying the high-seas biodiversity treaty, developing coastal climate adaptation plans, and strengthening support for sustainable "blue economies".[16]

Australia–Britain partnership

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A 'Climate and Energy Partnership' was agreed between Australia and Britain, intended to focus on accelerating renewable energy development by co-operating on such technology as green hydrogen and offshore wind power generation. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that the partnership would “ensure we maximise the economic potential of the net zero transition, and build on our long-standing cooperation on international climate action and shared commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050.”[13]

Slavery reparations

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In August, former Jamaican prime minister PJ Patterson, told the media that reparations for slavery was one of the agenda items to be discussed at the summit.[17] However, the United Kingdom insisted that reparations was not on the agenda, and that the UK was not considering making any reparation payments.[18] The British government also said there would be no apology for Britain's role in the Atlantic slave trade made at the summit. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, of Caribbean descent, previously expressed a desire for reparations in 2018.[19][20]

In his speech at the beginning of the summit, the King addressed the issue: "I understand from listening to people across the Commonwealth how the most painful aspects of our past continue to resonate. It is vital, therefore, that we understand our history, to guide us toward making the right choices in future."[21] The King would have been unable to issue an apology for Britain's role in the slave trade without being advised to do so by the government.[22][23]

At the conclusion of the summit, a joint communiqué was issued. It affirmed that Commonwealth states "agreed that the time has come for a meaningful, truthful and respectful conversation towards forging a common future based on equity”[24] and that they would hold conversations to address the “harms” of slavery, particularly those afflicted on women and girls, who “suffered disproportionately from these appalling tragedies in the history of humanity”.[25] The statement also said that it recognised that most Commonwealth states in both the Atlantic and Pacific “share common historical experiences in relation to this abhorrent trade, chattel enslavement, the debilitation and dispossession of Indigenous people”. It referred to what it called the “enduring effects” of this history and the practice of 'blackbirding', in which Pacific Islanders were exploited in Australia and other colonies.[26]

Absences

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Instead of attending the Commonwealth summit, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi attended the 16th BRICS summit, chaired by Vladimir Putin, which was scheduled for the same week in Kazan, Russia. According to The Independent, this is an indication that the two countries "place greater weight on maintaining relations with China and Russia than on the more diffuse attractions of CHOGM".[27] In the absence of Prime Minister Modi, India's delegation to the 2024 CHOGM was led by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju.[28] South Africa's delegation was led by Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Thandi Moraka.[29]

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau was also absent from the meeting, due to facing a leadership challenge.[30]

References

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  1. ^ "PRESS RELEASE – CHOGM Samoa 2024: Operational Note for Media". Government of Samoa. 19 September 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  2. ^ "Commonwealth Heads of Government to meet in Samoa in 2024". The Commonwealth. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Prime Minister Confident with Preparations for CHOGM". Samoa Global News. 10 February 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Samoa announces theme for the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting". The Commonwealth. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  5. ^ "CHOGM to be held in Samoa in 2024". The (Jamaica) Gleaner. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  6. ^ "King Charles Makes Sensitive Change for Australia Visit". Newsweek. September 25, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  7. ^ "Samoa makes resilience CHOGM's theme as fight over financing looms". Commonwealth Roundtable. The Commonwealth. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  8. ^ "Australian-backed candidate fails to topple Commonwealth boss Patricia Scotland". 24 June 2022.
  9. ^ "Foreign Affairs minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey eyes Commonwealth Secretary-General position". Modern Ghana. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  10. ^ "Dr Tangara, 2 others vie for Commonwealth SG position". The Point. 18 July 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  11. ^ Savage, Rachel (11 September 2024). "Candidates to lead Commonwealth urge reparations for slavery and colonialism". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Commonwealth Announces Ghana Foreign Minister As New Secretary General". Barron's. Agence France Presse. 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  13. ^ a b "UK and Australia embark on new climate and energy partnership". euronews. 2024-10-25. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  14. ^ "Commonwealth leaders say sinking nations should keep their maritime boundaries". The Print. Reuters. 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  15. ^ "Commonwealth leaders say 'time has come' for discussion on slavery reparations". Reuters. 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  16. ^ "Commonwealth nations adopt 1st ocean declaration as former British colonies seek reparatory justice". ABC News. Associated Press. October 26, 2024. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  17. ^ "PJ Patterson welcomes placement of reparations on agenda at next CHOGM". Jamaica Observer. August 4, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  18. ^ "Slavery reparations not on agenda at Commonwealth summit, saying No 10". The Guardian. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  19. ^ "No UK apology over slavery at Commonwealth summit". BBC News. 18 October 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  20. ^ Torrance, David (8 July 2024). "The royal prerogative and ministerial advice". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  21. ^ "King Charles acknowledges 'painful' past amid calls for Commonwealth discussions on reparations". CBC News. October 25, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  22. ^ "Why the King can't say 'sorry' for slavery". BBC News. 25 October 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  23. ^ "King Charles acknowledges 'painful' history amid calls for slavery reparations at Commonwealth summit". CNN. No. October 25, 2024. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  24. ^ "Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey appointed Commonwealth secretary general". The Guardian. 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  25. ^ "UK Agrees to Hold Talks With Commonwealth on Its Slavery Legacy". Bloomberg. October 26, 2024. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  26. ^ "'Time has come': Commonwealth heads agree to reparatory justice dialogue despite reluctant UK". The Guardian. 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  27. ^ "Who is attending the Commonwealth summit and what will they talk about?". The Independent. 24 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  28. ^ "Kiren Rijiju strengthens India-Samoa ties at CHOGM summit, advocates for SIDS and solar energy". India Today. October 24, 2024. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  29. ^ Fabricius, Peter (27 October 2024). "Zimbabwe's bid to re-enter Commonwealth set to highlight North-South divide". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  30. ^ Graham-McLay, Charlotte; McGill, Ayaka (24 October 2024). "Charles gets a warm welcome on his first visit as king to Samoa. But uneasy questions await". Associated Press. Retrieved 30 October 2024.