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AFP
London
The Gambia was readmitted to the Commonwealth, welcomed back following the democratic election of President Adama Barrow, who reversed the shock pullout of 2013.
His predecessor Yahya Jammeh suddenly withdrew the impoverished west African nation in October that year, branding the group an"extension of colonialism" as he lashed out at international organisations. Accused of flagrant rights abuses, Jammeh ruled mainland Africa's smallest country with an aura of mysticism and an iron fist after seizing power in 1994.
Barrow began the readmission process in February last year, two months after topping an election in which Jammeh initially refused to give up his 22-year rule, triggering a crisis.
Barrow's formal application to rejoin the Commonwealth, submitted last month, received unanimous support from member states.
Setting the seal on its return, The Gambia's flag was raised in a ceremony at Marlborough House, the Commonwealth Secretariat's headquarters in London."The government and people of The Gambia are ecstatic and overjoyed by the readmission of The Gambia into the Commonwealth of Nations," said Francis Blain, the country's representative in London, as he hoisted the flag.
The Gambia's re-entry means there are once again 53 member states in the Commonwealth, the voluntary association of mostly former territories of the British empire.
