What is the primary responsibility of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG)?

CMAG is responsible for upholding the Harare Declaration, which outlines the fundamental political values and core membership criteria of the Commonwealth of Nations. This group ensures that member states adhere to these shared principles.

How often is CMAG's remit evaluated and its membership reviewed?

CMAG's remit to evaluate the Harare Declaration lapses every two years. Its remit must be renewed, and its membership reviewed, by the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

When and where was CMAG established?

CMAG was established in November 1995 at Millbrook Resort, located in Queenstown, New Zealand.

What program led to the establishment of CMAG?

CMAG was established as a direct result of the Millbrook Commonwealth Action Programme. This program aimed to strengthen the Commonwealth's commitment to its core values.

What was the specific purpose for which CMAG was created?

CMAG was created to punish serious or persistent violations of the Harare Declaration, thereby ensuring accountability among Commonwealth member states regarding their adherence to democratic principles and human rights.

How is CMAG composed in terms of its members?

CMAG is composed of the Foreign Ministers, or their equivalents, from eight Commonwealth member states. Additionally, it may be augmented by one or two further representatives from a region or interest group involved in a particular case under review.

Where are the ordinary meetings of CMAG traditionally held?

Ordinary meetings of CMAG are traditionally hosted at the Commonwealth Secretariat headquarters, Marlborough House, during Commonwealth Week. They are also held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters in New York every September.

What was the initial focus of CMAG in its first meeting?

In its first meeting, CMAG decided to initially focus on the three military dictatorships of The Gambia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. These countries were the first to be scrutinized for violations of the Harare Declaration.

Which country's suspension from the Commonwealth was approved by CMAG early in its history?

CMAG approved the Commonwealth's suspension of Nigeria from the organization earlier in the year of its establishment. Nigeria was one of the first countries to face action from the group.

When was Nigeria's suspension from the Commonwealth lifted, and what was its subsequent role?

Nigeria's suspension was lifted by 1999, and its reintegration into the Commonwealth was deemed complete. Following this, Nigeria was chosen to be a member of CMAG itself prior to the thirteenth meeting, indicating its return to good standing.

What event in 1999 led CMAG to suspend Pakistan from the Commonwealth?

The 1999 coup d'état in Pakistan necessitated CMAG to vote unanimously to suspend Pakistan from the Commonwealth. This action demonstrated CMAG's commitment to addressing unconstitutional changes of government.

Which countries were placed under permanent scrutiny by CMAG in 2000?

In 2000, the situations in Fiji and the Solomon Islands were placed under permanent scrutiny by CMAG. This meant their political developments were closely monitored by the group.

When did Zimbabwe come under CMAG's scrutiny?

Zimbabwe came under CMAG's scrutiny in 2001. Its political situation became a significant focus of the group's affairs.

When was The Gambia removed from CMAG's formal agenda?

The Gambia was taken off CMAG's formal agenda at the seventeenth meeting, indicating an improvement in its adherence to Commonwealth values.

Why was the issue of Zimbabwe no longer discussed by CMAG from 2004 onwards?

The issue of Zimbabwe became moot and was not discussed by CMAG from 2004 onwards due to its acrimonious withdrawal from the Commonwealth in 2003. This meant the country was no longer subject to the group's oversight.

Why was Fiji removed from CMAG's agenda at the twenty-third meeting?

Fiji was taken off CMAG's agenda at the twenty-third meeting due to encouraging progress in that country's political development. This indicated a positive shift in its governance.

What decision was made regarding CMAG's meeting frequency at its twenty-fourth meeting in September 2004?

At its twenty-fourth meeting in September 2004, CMAG decided that, at least in principle, it should meet once a year, and preferably in New York. This aimed to establish a more regular meeting schedule.

What action did CMAG take in response to the 2006 coup d'état in Fiji?

In response to the 2006 coup d'état in Fiji, an extraordinary meeting of CMAG was called on December 8, 2006, at which it was decided to suspend Fiji's membership of the Commonwealth. This was a strong measure taken to condemn the unconstitutional change of government.

What ultimatum did the Commonwealth give Pakistan in November 2007, and what was the outcome?

On November 12, 2007, the Commonwealth gave Pakistan a 10-day deadline to restore its constitution and lift other emergency measures. When Pakistan failed to comply, CMAG voted to suspend Pakistan from Commonwealth Membership by November 22, 2007.

How has CMAG's membership composition changed since 2003?

Since 2003, CMAG's composition has included eight regular members plus a representative from the country holding the position of Commonwealth Chairperson-in-Office. This addition ensures representation from the current leadership of the Commonwealth.

Which countries successively held the 'Ex officio' position as the Commonwealth Chairperson-in-Office's representative on CMAG since 2003?

Since 2003, the countries that successively held the 'Ex officio' position as the Commonwealth Chairperson-in-Office's representative on CMAG were Nigeria, Malta, Uganda, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Which countries were members of CMAG during its first term from 1995 to 1997?

During its first term from 1995 to 1997, the members of CMAG were Jamaica, Canada, New Zealand, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Ghana, and Zimbabwe. The 'Ex officio' position was vacant during this period.

How did CMAG's membership change between the 1997-1999 and 1999-2002 terms?

Between the 1997-1999 and 1999-2002 terms, Barbados replaced Jamaica, Australia replaced New Zealand, Nigeria replaced South Africa, and Bangladesh replaced Ghana in CMAG's membership. Canada, Malaysia, United Kingdom, and Botswana remained members.

Which countries were new additions to CMAG's membership for the 2002-2003 term?

For the 2002-2003 term, new additions to CMAG's membership included The Bahamas, Samoa, India, and Malta. These countries joined Australia, Botswana, Nigeria, and Bangladesh from the previous term.

What was notable about Nigeria's role in CMAG during the 2003-2005 term?

During the 2003-2005 term, Nigeria held the 'Ex officio' position on CMAG, representing the Commonwealth Chairperson-in-Office's country. This marked a significant return to a leadership role for Nigeria after its earlier suspension.

Which countries comprised CMAG's membership for the 2005-2007 term?

For the 2005-2007 term, CMAG's membership included Saint Lucia, Papua New Guinea, Canada, Lesotho, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom. Malta served as the 'Ex officio' member during this period.

What were the member countries of CMAG for the 2007-2009 term, and who was the 'Ex officio' member?

The member countries of CMAG for the 2007-2009 term were Saint Lucia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Namibia, Ghana, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom. Uganda served as the 'Ex officio' member.

Which countries were part of CMAG's membership from 2009 to 2011?

From 2009 to 2011, CMAG's membership consisted of Jamaica, New Zealand, Canada, Bangladesh, Vanuatu, Maldives, Namibia, and Ghana. Trinidad and Tobago held the 'Ex officio' position during this term.

Who was the 'Ex officio' member of CMAG during the 2011-2013 term, and what were the other member countries?

Australia was the 'Ex officio' member of CMAG during the 2011-2013 term. The other member countries were Jamaica, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, Bangladesh, Vanuatu, Maldives, Tanzania, and Sierra Leone.

What was the composition of CMAG for the 2013-2015 term, including the 'Ex officio' member?

For the 2013-2015 term, CMAG's composition included Guyana, Solomon Islands, Canada, Pakistan, Cyprus, India, Tanzania, and Sierra Leone. Sri Lanka served as the 'Ex officio' member.

Which countries have been members of CMAG from 2015 to the present, and who is the 'Ex officio' member?

From 2015 to the present, the member countries of CMAG have been Guyana, Solomon Islands, Kenya, Namibia, Malta, Cyprus, India, and New Zealand. Malta has served as the 'Ex officio' member during this period.

Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group Wiki: The Commonwealth's Custodians: A Study of the Ministerial Action Group (CMAG)

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What is CMAG?

A Diplomatic Watchdog

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) is a high-level body of representatives from member states of the Commonwealth of Nations. Its full title, the "Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration," signifies its core function: to act as the guardian of the Commonwealth's fundamental political values.^[1] These values, enshrined in the Harare Declaration, form the essential criteria for membership in the organization.

Origins and Establishment

CMAG was established in November 1995 at Millbrook Resort in Queenstown, New Zealand. Its creation was a key outcome of the Millbrook Commonwealth Action Programme, which was designed to provide a mechanism for the Commonwealth to address and penalize serious or persistent violations of the Harare Declaration by its member states.^[1] This gave the organization a formal process to enforce its shared principles.

Composition and Meetings

The group is composed of the Foreign Ministers (or their equivalents) from eight Commonwealth member states. This core group can be augmented by one or two additional representatives from a region or interest group involved in a specific case under review.^[1] CMAG holds regular meetings, traditionally at the Commonwealth Secretariat's headquarters at Marlborough House in London, and also convenes on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York each September.^[2]

Mandate and Authority

The Harare Declaration

The authority of CMAG is derived directly from the Harare Declaration of 1991. This seminal document outlines the Commonwealth's core principles, including a commitment to democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and good governance. CMAG's primary mandate is to assess and respond to any member state's deviation from these foundational values, ensuring the integrity and credibility of the Commonwealth as a whole.^[1]

The Power to Act

CMAG is empowered to take decisive action against countries that persistently violate the Harare Declaration. Its remit includes investigating situations, engaging with governments, and recommending measures to the wider Commonwealth. These measures can range from formal expressions of disapproval to the most serious penalty: the suspension of a member from the councils of the Commonwealth, effectively isolating it from the organization's activities and support systems.

Biennial Review

The mandate and membership of CMAG are not permanent. The group's authority to evaluate adherence to the Harare Declaration is subject to renewal every two years. This review is conducted by the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), the organization's supreme policy-making body. This process ensures that CMAG remains accountable to the entire Commonwealth and that its composition reflects the diverse nature of the member states.

A History of Intervention

The Early Years (1995-1999)

In its inaugural meeting, CMAG immediately focused on the three military dictatorships then within the Commonwealth: The Gambia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.^[3] It formally endorsed the earlier suspension of Nigeria, sending a clear signal of its intent. This period was defined by intensive engagement with these three nations. The era culminated with the 1999 coup d'état in Pakistan, which prompted CMAG to vote unanimously for Pakistan's suspension.^[4] By this time, Nigeria's democratic progress led to its suspension being lifted.^[5]

A New Millennium (2000-2005)

The turn of the century saw CMAG expand its focus. In 2000, political instability in Fiji and the Solomon Islands brought them under permanent scrutiny.^[6] The following year, the deteriorating political situation in Zimbabwe was added to the group's agenda.^[7] Over time, progress in The Gambia led to its removal from the formal agenda.^[8] The contentious issue of Zimbabwe became moot after its acrimonious withdrawal from the Commonwealth in 2003, and Fiji was also removed from the agenda following encouraging political developments.^[9]

Later Interventions (2006-Present)

CMAG's role as a crisis-response body was highlighted again in December 2006, when an extraordinary meeting was called in response to a coup d'état in Fiji. The group acted swiftly, deciding to suspend Fiji's membership in the Commonwealth.^[11] Similarly, in November 2007, CMAG gave Pakistan a ten-day deadline to restore its constitution amid a state of emergency. When the deadline passed without compliance, CMAG voted to suspend Pakistan from the Commonwealth once again.

Membership Over Time

The composition of CMAG is reviewed biennially, ensuring a rotation of representation from across the Commonwealth. The table below details the membership of the group since its inception in 1995. Since 2003, the group has also included an ex officio representative from the country of the Commonwealth Chairperson-in-Office.

Term	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	Ex officio
1995 - 1997	🇯🇲 Jamaica	🇨🇦 Canada	🇳🇿 New Zealand	🇲🇾 Malaysia	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	🇿🇦 South Africa	🇬🇭 Ghana	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	VACANT
1997 - 1999	🇧🇧 Barbados		🇳🇿 New Zealand			🇧🇼 Botswana	🇬🇭 Ghana	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
1999 - 2002	🇧🇧 Barbados		🇦🇺 Australia				🇳🇬 Nigeria	🇧🇩 Bangladesh
2002 - 2003	🇧🇸 Bahamas	🇼🇸 Samoa	🇦🇺 Australia	🇮🇳 India	🇲🇹 Malta		🇳🇬 Nigeria	🇧🇩 Bangladesh
2003 - 2005	🇧🇸 Bahamas	🇼🇸 Samoa	🇨🇦 Canada	🇮🇳 India	🇲🇹 Malta	🇱🇸 Lesotho	🇹🇿 Tanzania	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	🇳🇬 Nigeria
2005 - 2007	🇱🇨 Saint Lucia	🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea	🇨🇦 Canada	🇲🇾 Malaysia	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	🇱🇸 Lesotho	🇹🇿 Tanzania		🇲🇹 Malta
2007 - 2009	🇱🇨 Saint Lucia	🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea	🇳🇿 New Zealand	🇲🇾 Malaysia	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	🇳🇦 Namibia	🇬🇭 Ghana		🇺🇬 Uganda
2009 - 2011	🇯🇲 Jamaica	🇦🇺 Australia	🇳🇿 New Zealand	🇧🇩 Bangladesh	🇻🇺 Vanuatu	🇳🇦 Namibia	🇬🇭 Ghana	🇲🇻 Maldives	🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
2011 - 2013	🇯🇲 Jamaica	🇨🇦 Canada	🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago	🇧🇩 Bangladesh	🇻🇺 Vanuatu	🇹🇿 Tanzania	🇸🇱 Sierra Leone	🇲🇻 Maldives	🇦🇺 Australia
2013 - 2015	🇬🇾 Guyana	🇸🇧 Solomon Islands	🇵🇰 Pakistan	🇨🇾 Cyprus	🇮🇳 India	🇹🇿 Tanzania	🇸🇱 Sierra Leone	🇳🇿 New Zealand	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
2015 - present	🇬🇾 Guyana	🇸🇧 Solomon Islands	🇵🇰 Pakistan	🇨🇾 Cyprus	🇮🇳 India	🇰🇪 Kenya	🇳🇦 Namibia	🇳🇿 New Zealand	🇲🇹 Malta

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The Commonwealth's Custodians

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What is CMAG? ℹ️

🏛️ A Diplomatic Watchdog

📅 Origins and Establishment

👥 Composition and Meetings

Mandate and Authority ⚖️

📜 The Harare Declaration

⚡ The Power to Act

🔄 Biennial Review

A History of Intervention ⏳

🌍 The Early Years (1995-1999)

🇵🇬 A New Millennium (2000-2005)

🇫🇯 Later Interventions (2006-Present)

Membership Over Time 🤝

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📜 Important Notice

Dive in with Flashcard Learning!

What is CMAG?

A Diplomatic Watchdog

Origins and Establishment

Composition and Meetings

Mandate and Authority

The Harare Declaration

The Power to Act

Biennial Review

A History of Intervention

The Early Years (1995-1999)

A New Millennium (2000-2005)

Later Interventions (2006-Present)

Membership Over Time

Teacher's Corner

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Discover other topics to study!

References

Feedback & Support

Disclaimer

Important Notice