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| Rwanda 'admitted to Commonwealth' | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Rwanda has announced that it has become the 54th member of the Commonwealth. | Rwanda has announced that it has become the 54th member of the Commonwealth. |
| The African country was admitted at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Trinidad and Tobago, a Rwandan government spokesman said. | |
| The accession recognised Rwanda's "tremendous progress" over the last 15 years, according to a Rwandan paper. | |
| The former colony of Germany and Belgium is the second country to be admitted without a British colonial past or constitutional link to Britain. | The former colony of Germany and Belgium is the second country to be admitted without a British colonial past or constitutional link to Britain. |
| Mozambique is the only other Commonwealth member without historic UK ties. | Mozambique is the only other Commonwealth member without historic UK ties. |
| It joined the organisation 14 years ago. | It joined the organisation 14 years ago. |
| Country profile: Rwanda | Country profile: Rwanda |
| Information minister Louise Mushikiwabo is quoted by the online edition of the Rwandan daily New Times as saying Rwanda was pleased by its admission. | Information minister Louise Mushikiwabo is quoted by the online edition of the Rwandan daily New Times as saying Rwanda was pleased by its admission. |
| "Rwandans are ready to seize economic, political, cultural and other opportunities offered by the Commonwealth network," she said. | "Rwandans are ready to seize economic, political, cultural and other opportunities offered by the Commonwealth network," she said. |
| Rwanda expressed its desire to join the Commonwealth in 2008, despite its historic association with Francophone countries. | Rwanda expressed its desire to join the Commonwealth in 2008, despite its historic association with Francophone countries. |
| Relations between France and Rwanda have been poor for years. | Relations between France and Rwanda have been poor for years. |
| A French judge implicated Rwanda's President Paul Kagame in the Rwandan genocide of 1994, an accusation which he rejected. | A French judge implicated Rwanda's President Paul Kagame in the Rwandan genocide of 1994, an accusation which he rejected. |
| The Rwandan government has accused France of having backed the forces that went on to instigate the genocide. | The Rwandan government has accused France of having backed the forces that went on to instigate the genocide. |
| The Rwandan New Times said Rwanda's bid to join the group was supported by Britain, Australia, Canada and India. | The Rwandan New Times said Rwanda's bid to join the group was supported by Britain, Australia, Canada and India. |
| It also had the backing of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa and the host country Trinidad and Tobago, among others. | It also had the backing of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa and the host country Trinidad and Tobago, among others. |