Press/slma
Rwandan government has revealed that all preparations to host over 50 heads of State and governments (CHOGM) are complete.
In meeting on Wednesday, the Rwandan President Paul Kagame, told the visiting Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland, his government is ready host the biggest gathering of world leaders, stating on 20 June 2022 as the new date agreed with member countries for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
CHOGM was due to have been held in Kigali in June 2020 but has been postponed twice due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
CHOGM is customarily held every two years and is the Commonwealth’s highest consultative and policy-making gathering. Commonwealth leaders selected Rwanda as host for their next gathering when they met in London in 2018.
“Rwanda is pleased to welcome all delegates and participants to Kigali for a safe and productive CHOGM Rwanda 2022. The last two years have made it clear to us that we are more connected than ever before and we must work together to achieve the tangible and sustainable results we want.
The long-awaited meeting will be an important occasion to come together to address the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and to build on innovative technological and economic opportunities to solve other key problems facing our citizens.” President Kagame said:
The Commonwealth Secretary-General Scotland said that she was delighted that the Commonwealth family can finally be reunited, four years on from our last CHOGM in London.
Scotland added that meetings in Rwanda will give participants a real opportunity to reaffirm the values that bind the Commonwealth together and focus on vital issues, including the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The meeting will also tackle climate change and poverty, boosting trade and promoting sustainable development – all issues that can only be dealt with decisively through multilateral cooperation and mutual support.
“We have adapted throughout the pandemic, holding ministerial meetings online. It is with great joy and anticipation that we look ahead to a face-to-face Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. This will be the first CHOGM to be held in Africa for over a decade and I would like to commend the Government and people of Rwanda for their outstanding commitment and dedication to delivering an exemplary CHOGM in Kigali,’’ Scotland said.
The Commonwealth of Countries is a forum that brings together all former British Colonies in the world and it’s headed by Queen Elizabeth 11 of the United Kingdom.
Source: The East African Watch
