CHOGM 2022: a very African affair

ABSTRACT

CHOGM Rwanda 2022 was a very African affair, and an important reminder that, of the 54 members of the Commonwealth, 19 were from the African continent. With the recent addition of two more – Gabon and Togo – bringing the total to 56, Africa’s predominance has increased to well over a third of the membership.As we all know, this particular Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting had been a long time in coming. Delayed by two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the choice of Rwanda as host signified a first not only was Rwanda the newest member of the Commonwealth, having joined in 2009, but it was also the first country without a British colonial past to host CHOGM.With twice the amount of time to organise than would have been normal, Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, was well prepared. All the major hotels appeared to be in pristine condition, as was the Kigali Convention Centre (KCC) looking like a beehive, it was opened in 2016 at the cost of $300 million. With the variegated flags of the member countries on full display, the KCC’s most important function was as the venue for the Opening Ceremony held on a brilliant sunny morning in Kigali.