''Maldives could rejoin the Commonwealth by early 2020''

Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid has announced that the Maldives will rejoin the Commonwealth in early 2020.

A letter by Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland to the President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih stated that there was no disapproval from any Commonwealth country to the Maldives rejoining the political association.

The letter was hailed as good tidings by the Minister who stated that the work to rejoin the association would be concluded early in 2020 and thanked the countries of Commonwealth and its Secretary-General for their assistance in the matter.

Straining of the relationship between the Maldives and the Commonwealth saw the country leave the association under the previous administration in 2016. However, the new administration of President Solih quickly reapplied for membership soon after taking power in December 2018.

All the procedures of Maldives rejoining the 53-country strong association is now complete and is being supported by the remaining members.

If the process is completed according to the estimates of the Foreign Minister, Maldives could be present at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Kigali, Rwanda on June 23, 2020, as a fully-fledged member country.