The Commonwealth is a group of 56 member states and consists largely of countries formerly belonging to the British Empire. Most African countries form the organization. They play a major role in bringing diversification of cultures, economic power, and global attraction to the Commonwealth. We will be discussing African countries in the Commonwealth, their roles, and what they gain from membership.
What is The Commonwealth?
The Commonwealth helps the members to achieve peace, justice, human rights, and economic development. It helps them to cooperate in areas like schools, business, climate, and helping the youth to reach their potential. The grouping is not a matter of one country ruling the others. Instead, it is founded upon shared history, values, and the desire for a better tomorrow.
Which African Countries are members?
There are twenty-one African countries in the Commonwealth, and Africa has a major role to play. They include:
1. Botswana
2. Cameroon
3. Eswatini (Swaziland)
4. Gabon
5. The Gambia
6. Ghana
7. Kenya
8. Lesotho
9. Malawi
10. Mauritius
11. Mozambique
12. Namibia
13. Nigeria
14. Rwanda
15. Seychelles
16. Sierra Leone
17. South Africa
18. Tanzania
19. Togo
20. Uganda
21. Zambia
Interestingly, Mozambique, Rwanda, Gabon, and Togo became members even though Britain never colonized them. This shows that the Commonwealth is growing and becoming popular with countries all over the world. Also, Zimbabwe left the Commonwealth in 2003 because of political struggles. However, the nation applied to rejoin the organization, though it’s still under consideration.
Why Join the Commonwealth?
There are various advantages the African countries have by being members of the Commonwealth. It creates opportunities for education, scholarships, trade, and development aid. The Commonwealth Scholarship scheme enables the African students to undertake their studies at very prestigious universities in the member countries, where they learn more and enhance their skills. The Commonwealth also offers African countries a platform upon which they can express themselves on issues related to the world, e.g., global warming and economic disparities. All the African leaders use the Commonwealth forum as a platform to promote fair business, environmental sustainability, and youth empowerment.
What Do African Countries Bring to the Table?
The African countries make significant contributions in the form of rich cultures, resources, and new ideas to the Commonwealth. South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya are some of the big countries to impact peacekeeping, dialogue among nations, and economic collaboration. These African scholars, artists, and athletes also perform well in Commonwealth games, thus promoting unity through sport and culture. Furthermore, the African countries provide their contribution in terms of what should be carried out with respect to climate change. This is especially important given that Africa is readily devastated by climatic factors like drought, floods, and deforestation.
Conclusion
The participation of African countries within the Commonwealth is at the core of the group’s continuity and relevance. The Commonwealth is rendered strong, diverse, and competent to deal with global challenges by the reality that 21 African countries belong to it. With the increasing profile of Africa, the contribution of African countries to the Commonwealth will be enhanced, towards the collective prosperity, peace, and development of all member states.
