The Second Assessment Mission by the Commonwealth Secretariat has arrived in the Maldives. The visit to Maldives follows important milestones achieved by the Maldives in its efforts to re-join the Commonwealth.
The Second Assessment will be headed by Senior Director of the Governance and Peace Directorate of the Secretariat Katalaina Saplou. During the visit, the Commonwealth team will meet with government ministers and other senior officials, speaker of parliament, members of independent institutions, members of the judiciary and other important interlocutors.
The Commonwealth Secretariat undertook the First Assessment Mission in January 2019 following the formal request made by the President of Maldives in December 2018, requesting the Commonwealth Secretary-General to re-admit the Maldives as member of the Commonwealth. In April 2019, a Commonwealth Observer Group visited Maldives to observe the Parliamentary Elections of which, the Maldives received positive feedback. Finally in June 2019, minister of foreign affairs formally submitted all documentation required under the membership criteria to the Secretary-General.
Re-joining the Commonwealth is a key pledge of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. The decision to re-apply for membership was concluded within one week of the new government assuming power in November 2018.