By Ncaba Ntshakala
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pholile Shakantu has recently participated in the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM) 2024 in New York, USA where she advanced the Kingdom of Eswatini’s foreign policy.
The meeting was held alongside the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 2024) and it convened foreign ministers from across the Commonwealth to engage in discussions on key international issues affecting member states.
This meeting was an opportunity for members to review the broad array of achievements of the Commonwealth over the previous year and to discuss the key priorities ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which will convene in Samoa in October 2024.
Minister Pholile Shakantu’s participation was a major step in advancing Eswatini’s foreign policy, which highlights the Kingdom’s ongoing dedication to the Commonwealth and its objectives.
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During the meeting, the Minister advocated for issues crucial to Eswatini, including support for sustainable development, climate change adaptation, and the pursuit of economic transformation.
“Eswatini is seeking to secure commitments from Commonwealth members on issues of trade facilitation, capacity-building, and cooperation in global health and climate adaptation.
Our participation at CFAMM 2024 is an important platform to advance Eswatini’s international cooperation objectives within the Commonwealth framework while addressing both global and domestic challenges,” she said.
The CFAMM provides a vital platform for Commonwealth nations to discuss shared concerns, review progress in implementing collective commitments, and tackle contemporary global challenges.
Special attention was given to issues impacting smaller and developing states, a category in which Eswatini plays a key role.
Again, Minister Shakantu’s contributions emphasized Eswatini’s desire to strengthen its ties within the Commonwealth which was further hailed as it shows the Kingdom’s development goals on the global stage.
According to a communique shared by the Commonwealth, the 24th Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM) took place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, on 23 September 2024 from 10:00 AM-1:00 PM New York time.
The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Rwanda, Olivier Nduhungirehe.
The communique asserts that CFAMM allows Commonwealth Foreign Affairs ministers to develop joint responses to shared challenges.
The 24th meeting further provided an opportunity to update members on the delivery of mandates agreed upon at the 2022 Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and proceed to inform Ministers about preparations for the next CHOGM which will be taking place in Samoa in October 2024.
This meeting also provided an opportunity to finalize the CHOGM Outcome documents, to be discussed in detail during the CHOGM Committee of the Whole, to which Senior Officials from member countries will be invited to attend.
Moreover, the CFAMM aimed at encouraging Ministers to reflect on how Commonwealth countries and the Secretariat can work together in strengthening infrastructure, governance, and connections within the Commonwealth and thereby strengthen resilience in adverse times.
CFAMM plays a pivotal role in advancing the Commonwealth’s agenda and setting the stage for the upcoming summit in Samoa.
Chaired by His Excellency Olivier Nduhungirehe, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Rwanda, in Rwanda’s role as Commonwealth Chair-in-Office,
the meeting discussed a range of pressing international challenges and the path to a stronger Commonwealth, reaffirming its commitment to collective action and shared solutions.
In her final address to a CFAMM as Commonwealth Secretary-General, Right Honourable Patricia Scotland KC reflected on the considerable progress made during her eight-year tenure, while also acknowledging the increasing complexity of the challenges facing the global community.
She underscored the Commonwealth’s vital role in addressing urgent crises such as climate change, economic instability, and threats to democracy.
“The world is more connected yet more challenged than ever before. The crises we face — from intensifying climate change to economic shocks and global conflict — are deeply interlinked, exacerbating inequalities and spreading uncertainty,” said Secretary-General Scotland.
“Our Commonwealth family is a symbol of unity and collective strength, and we must continue to work together to ensure a resilient and sustainable future for all.”
Key updates from CFAMM 2024
Ministers received updates on several key issues:
- CHOGM 2024 preparations: Prime Minister of Samoa, Hon Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa, provided an update on preparations for the upcoming CHOGM in Apia, Samoa, in October 2024. She reaffirmed Samoa’s dedication to hosting a successful summit under the theme ‘One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth’.
- Commonwealth Secretariat’s Annual Results Report: Secretary-General Scotland presented the Secretariat’s progress over the past year, including key achievements in sustainable development, climate action, and economic resilience, as mandated by CHOGM 2022.
- Country situations: Ministers discussed territorial and political challenges in Cyprus, Belize, Guyana, and Bangladesh, reaffirming their solidarity with these member countries and their commitment to addressing the pressing issues in line with Commonwealth values of peace, justice, and democracy.
- Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG): The CMAG Chair provided a report on discussions held during the meeting of CMAG held the previous day, which addressed governance matters in some member countries and the Good Office work of the Secretary-General across the Commonwealth.
