Former French colony Rwanda has applied to join the British Commonwealth rather than joining the French equivalent. Rwandan relations with France have deteriorated recently over France's involvement in the Rwandan genocide
Algeria (another former French colony), Yemen, Sudan, Israel and the Palestinian territories also hope to join the Commonwealth next year....
Rwanda seeks to join Commonwealth
The consequences of the 1994 genocide are still being felt
Rwanda says it is applying to join the Commonwealth, despite its historic association with Francophone countries.
Co-operation Minister Rosemary Museminali said she hoped its application would be approved during the 2007 Commonwealth summit in Uganda.
Relations with France have deteriorated in recent months after a French judge implicated Rwanda's President Paul Kagame in the Rwandan genocide of 1994.
Mozambique is the only Commonwealth member without historical UK ties.
It joined the organisation 11 years ago.
A Commonwealth team led by former Jamaican Prime Minister Percival Patterson is to consider the application.
Algeria, Yemen, Sudan, Israel and the Palestinian territories are said to be seeking to join in November next year too.
Currently, the Commonwealth group has 53 member countries - mainly made up of countries with colonial ties to the UK.
Row
The 1994 shooting down of a plane carrying then Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana triggered the genocide in which around 800,000 people died.
President Kagame has dismissed accusations of his involvement in the killing of his predecessor - accusing France of actively supporting the killings during the genocide.
France denies involvement in the genocide and says its military interventions helped Rwandans.
Diplomatic relations between Rwanda and France have broken down and Rwanda has expelled French organisations working in the country.
news.bbc.co.uk
---------------------------------------------------
And some Canadians have the cheek to call the Commonwealth "old-fashioned" or "obsolete."
***************************************************************
There are 53 members of the British Commonwealth, most of which (but not all) are former British colonies. But from next year it could become larger as countries such as Rwanda, Israel, Palestine and Algeria may join.
Flag of the Commonwealth
Algeria (another former French colony), Yemen, Sudan, Israel and the Palestinian territories also hope to join the Commonwealth next year....
Rwanda seeks to join Commonwealth
The consequences of the 1994 genocide are still being felt
Rwanda says it is applying to join the Commonwealth, despite its historic association with Francophone countries.
Co-operation Minister Rosemary Museminali said she hoped its application would be approved during the 2007 Commonwealth summit in Uganda.
Relations with France have deteriorated in recent months after a French judge implicated Rwanda's President Paul Kagame in the Rwandan genocide of 1994.
Mozambique is the only Commonwealth member without historical UK ties.
It joined the organisation 11 years ago.
A Commonwealth team led by former Jamaican Prime Minister Percival Patterson is to consider the application.
Algeria, Yemen, Sudan, Israel and the Palestinian territories are said to be seeking to join in November next year too.
Currently, the Commonwealth group has 53 member countries - mainly made up of countries with colonial ties to the UK.
Row
The 1994 shooting down of a plane carrying then Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana triggered the genocide in which around 800,000 people died.
President Kagame has dismissed accusations of his involvement in the killing of his predecessor - accusing France of actively supporting the killings during the genocide.
France denies involvement in the genocide and says its military interventions helped Rwandans.
Diplomatic relations between Rwanda and France have broken down and Rwanda has expelled French organisations working in the country.
news.bbc.co.uk
---------------------------------------------------
And some Canadians have the cheek to call the Commonwealth "old-fashioned" or "obsolete."
***************************************************************
There are 53 members of the British Commonwealth, most of which (but not all) are former British colonies. But from next year it could become larger as countries such as Rwanda, Israel, Palestine and Algeria may join.
Flag of the Commonwealth
Last edited: