Rwanda seeks to join Commonwealth

[Posteritatis]

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.

. . .

Algeria, Yemen, Sudan, Israel and the Palestinian territories are said to be seeking to join in November next year too.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6200027.stm

...Zuh?

[DavidDvorkin]

1. What a curious development

Does this have something to do with a special trade relationship with the EU for Commonwealth countries?

[bigworld]

2. I suppose the US could join, too, couldn't it?

[DavidDvorkin]

3. I suppose it could apply

Would it be admitted?

[bigworld]

4. everything, I suppose.

I _think_ that being a Commonwealth member gets you low or non-existent taxes on imports into the UK (and I guess, by extension, into the EU). Correct me if I am wrong (which is very likely). I should think the Commonwealth powers that be will nix this idea, though.

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. No, I don't think it does

When the UK joined the EU, one of the objections people had was that the old UK-New Zealand trade arrangements had to be scrapped. There used to be special arrangements with agricultural products from the Caribbean (which, since France had similar connections, seemed to survive the EU), but the WTO has had those replaced, since they decided they were unfair to central American countries.

There is a tendency for aid from Commonwealth countries to be targeted on other Commonwealth countries, so that might be what they're aiming for.

This is also the first I've heard of the other countries that want to join - Algeria has no connection with Britain at all (hell, France regarded it as part of France for years), but the others have all been a 'British mandate' at some time. It would be quite hilarious to see Israel and Palestine admitted as members at the same time - it could liven up the meetings a bit. Hah, Iraq and Afghanistan might qualify too.

[bigworld]

5. Well, if Mozambique can do it......

from The Commonwealth's FAQ:

Q.

What are the membership requirements?
A.

All of the member states, except for Mozambique, have experienced direct or indirect British rule, or have been linked administratively to another Commonwealth country. At the 1997 summit in Edinburgh, Heads of Government considered the criteria for Commonwealth membership and agreed that in order to become a member of the Commonwealth, an applicant country should, as a rule, have had a constitutional association with an existing Commonwealth member state; that it should comply with Commonwealth values, principles and priorities as set out in the Harare Declaration; and that it should accept Commonwealth norms and conventions.
Q.

Under what criteria was Mozambique, a former Portuguese colony, admitted as a member?
A.

Mozambique was admitted in 1995 as a unique case because of its close relationship with the Commonwealth since its independence in 1975, and the association's recognition that during that period, despite a heavy cost to its own economy, Mozambique had supported the Commonwealth's stand against white minority rule in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and South Africa.