The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) assesses violations of Commonwealth values and recommends measures to restore democracy and constitutional rule. Its activities, composition and remit are reviewed every two years.
The Commonwealth places a high priority on being a community of peaceful, democratic countries which promotes and protects shared values, including the separation of powers, rule of law and human rights. Established more than 20 years ago in 1995, the CMAG is the custodian of these fundamental political values.
Mandate
In its early years, CMAG focused on unconstitutional changes in government including military coups. In 2011, Commonwealth leaders broadened the mandate of CMAG so it could engage more proactively and constructively with countries where Commonwealth fundamental political values are at risk.
The group now assesses concerns such as the unjustified postponement of elections, egregious violations of human rights, the undermining of the judiciary, lack of space for the opposition, and systematic constraints on civil society and the media.
CMAG may agree measures for collective action to deal with persistent or serious violations of Commonwealth values, including suspending membership of the Commonwealth or even recommending expulsion.
Composition
The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group is made up of a rotating group of foreign ministers from eight countries, drawn from different regions, plus the foreign minister of the Commonwealth Chairperson-in-Office, the host of the previous Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Its meetings are convened by the Commonwealth Secretary-General with the Commonwealth Secretariat providing secretarial support.
The current members are: Samoa (Chair), Barbados, Belize, Canada, Ghana, Malta, Malaysia, Mauritius and Rwanda.
CMAG statements
- Concluding Statement of the 64th CMAG (March 2024)
- Concluding Statement of the 63rd CMAG (September 2023)
- Concluding Statement of the 62nd CMAG (March 2023)
- Concluding Statement of the 60th CMAG (May 2022)
- Concluding Statement of the 59th CMAG (December 2021)
- Concluding Statement of the 58th CMAG (March 2021)
- Concluding Statement of the 57th CMAG (October 2020)
- Concluding Statement of the 56th CMAG (April 2020)
- Concluding Statement of the 55th CMAG (September 2019)
