It was Nigeria that hosted talks to try to settle the current dispute. The resulting agreement could be a diplomatic triumph for the organisation, or it might turn out to be no more than temporary face-saving. What chance then for an agenda that promises continuity and renewal in an organisation often poorly understood?
Between heads of government meetings every two years, the activities of the Commonwealth are rarely reported, and its role in international relations is frequently either ignored or misunderstood. For Commonwealth states, however, membership represents good value for money. Even those that have had their membership suspended – Gambia, Fiji, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone – have rejoined at the first opportunity.
