President Kagame Hands Over Commonwealth Chairmanship

President Paul Kagame handed over Rwanda’s Commonwealth Chair-in-Office role to Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi of Samoa. The handover took place on Friday, 25 October during the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, the capital city of Samoa. In his remarks, President Kagame said it has been a great honor for Rwanda to serve as Chair-in-Office for the past two years. "It has been a great honor for Rwanda to serve as Chair-in-Office for the past two years," President Kagame said. He congratulated Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa and wished her success. "I congratulate Pr

President Paul Kagame handed over Rwanda’s Commonwealth Chair-in-Office role to Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi of Samoa.

The handover took place on Friday, 25 October during the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, the capital city of Samoa.

In his remarks, President Kagame said it has been a great honor for Rwanda to serve as Chair-in-Office for the past two years.


"It has been a great honor for Rwanda to serve as Chair-in-Office for the past two years," President Kagame said.

He congratulated Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa and wished her success.

"I congratulate Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa and wish you all success as Chair. Rwanda stands ready to support you. Samoa is the first Pacific island state to host CHOGM," President Kagame said in CHOGM 2024.

President Kagame highlighted that equality, diversity, and solidarity are the values that bind Commonwealth members.

"Earlier this year, the Commonwealth turned 75. What was once an association of eight countries is now one of 56. Equality, diversity, and solidarity are the values that bind us together. Because of this, where we have the opportunity to right our wrongs, let’s do that, and find a consensus that can stand the test of time. With respect for each other and our differences, we can move forward towards our common future."

In 2009, Rwanda became the 54th member of the Commonwealth, the first country to join the Commonwealth under the revised membership criteria endorsed at the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala, and one of only two members without historic ties to the United Kingdom.

Fifty-six independent countries make up the Commonwealth in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, and the Pacific.

The combined GDP of Commonwealth countries in 2021 was US$13.1 trillion and is estimated to reach $19.5 trillion in 2027, almost doubling in ten years from $10.4 trillion in 2017.