Rwanda’s  request  to join  the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), was officially granted during the organization’s General Assembly held in Nairobi, Kenya on Saturday, September 18.

Rwanda started the application process in November last year

The Speaker of Parliament, Rose Mukantabana, said yesterday that it’s a great opportunity for Rwanda to join the CPA since the country will benefit from the bloc much as the commonwealth also has a lot to learn

"The association brings together member States to exchange experiences on issues regarding respect for Human Rights, Justice, Democracy and good governance,” said Mukantabana, upon her arrival from Nairobi. 

"Currently Rwanda is performing well in those four areas of focus and that’s the package we are taking to the association.”

She added that; "Rwanda being the 54th country to join the bloc gives her a chance to benefit from a cross-section of experiences from other countries.”

During the Nairobi conference, the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Kamalesh Sharma said that "Rwanda has progressed remarkably since its darkest days in 1994, not least in leading the world in the percentage of women in its parliament.”

CPA was founded as the Empire Parliamentary Association in 1911, with its first branches being Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom, with the latter branch administering the association as a whole.

In 1948, the association changed its name to the current Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

Ends