Australia was one of the original Dominions at the time of the Balfour Declaration of 1926 and the Statute of Westminster 1931, although the statute was not adopted in Australia until 1942 (with retroactive effect from 1939).[4] The Australia Act 1986 eliminated the remaining possibilities for the UK to legislate with effect in Australia, for the UK to be involved in Australian government, and for an appeal from any Australian court to a British court.[5]
Most of the country was the formerly French mandate territory (later UN trust territory) of Cameroun, which gained independence from France on 1 January 1960. It united with the much smaller former British mandate/trust territory of Southern Cameroons, which gained independence from the United Kingdom on 1 October 1961.
Canada was the first among the several original Dominions at the time of the Balfour Declaration of 1926 and the Statute of Westminster 1931.[11] Incorporated another original Dominion, Newfoundland, on 31 March 1949.[12] The Canada Act 1982 formally ended the "request and consent" provisions of the Statute of Westminster 1931 in relation to Canada, whereby the British parliament had a general power to pass laws extending to Canada at its own request.
Suspended in 1987; rejoined in 1997; suspended on 6 June 2000;[14] suspension lifted on 20 December 2001;[15] again suspended on 8 December 2006 because of the 2006 Fijian coup d'état.[16][17] Suspension lifted on 26 September 2014.
Gained independence from France on 17 August 1960. The third (after Mozambique and Rwanda) to be admitted to the Commonwealth without any former colonial or constitutional links with the United Kingdom.[18] Partially suspended on 18 September 2023 following the military coup that ousted President Ali Bongo the previous month, with two years given by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group for the country to hold new elections before a full suspension of membership would be considered.[19][20]
Withdrew on 3 October 2013 citing "neocolonialism".[21][22] Following the election of Adama Barrow as President of Gambia in 2016, it submitted an application to rejoin the Commonwealth on 22 January 2018,[23] and rejoined on 8 February 2018.[24]
Gained independence from the United Kingdom on 26 July 1965.[28] A special member from 9 July 1982 until 20 July 1985.[29] Withdrew on 13 October 2016.[30][31] Rejoined on 1 February 2020.[32]
Former dependency of Portuguese India until 1752. Gained independence from Portugal on 25 June 1975. The first country to be admitted to the Commonwealth without any former colonial or constitutional links with the United Kingdom.[34]
Unitary parliamentary republic with an executive presidency
Gained independence on 31 January 1968 from joint trusteeship of Australia, New Zealand and United Kingdom. A special member from 29 November 1968 until 1 May 1999, when it became a full member,[36] before reverting to special status in January 2006.[37] A full member again since June 2011.[38]
Includes the city of Gwadar, transferred from Muscat and Oman on 8 September 1958. Included Bangladesh (then known as East Pakistan) until 1971.[7] Left Commonwealth in 1972, rejoined 1990, effective retroactively from October 1989; suspended in 1999, suspension lifted in 2004; again suspended in 2007,[41] suspension lifted in 2008.[42]
Gained independence from Belgium on 1 July 1962. The second country (after Mozambique) to be admitted to the Commonwealth without any former colonial or constitutional links with the United Kingdom.[34] Admitted despite the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) finding that "the state of governance and human rights in Rwanda does not satisfy Commonwealth standards", and that it "does not therefore qualify for admission".[44]
Gained independence from the United Kingdom and joined Federation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963. Became independent on 9 August 1965.[46] While joining in 1966, the effective date is from its date of independence.[47]
Tanganyika joined the Commonwealth on 9 December 1961, with the island of Zanzibar following suit later. The two subsequently merged to form Tanzania on 26 April 1964.[49]
Granted independence on 31 August 1962. Became a republic on 1 August 1976 under the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Constitution Act 1976, passed by the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago.
^ A. Unless otherwise noted, independence was gained from the United Kingdom on the date (shown in column 2) of joining the Commonwealth. ^ B. Not a member of the Commonwealth Foundation. ^ C. Though Pakistan celebrates 14 August 1947 as its independence day, independence was officially granted at midnight, 15 August 1947. Therefore, its date of joining the Commonwealth would be 15 August 1947. ^ D. Geographically a part of Asia, considered a European country in political geography. ^ E. Constitutional monarchy that operates under a Westminster system. The monarch is not the same individual as the British monarch, hence making it not a Commonwealth realm. ^ F. In geology, the Maltese Islands are located on the African Plate. The island group lies approx. 200 km (120 mi) south of the boundary between the African Plate and the Eurasian Plate.[52] In political geography, Malta is considered a European country.
^There is no equivalent provision as to the Commonwealth. However, for both the Commonwealth and the States, constitutional convention effectively excludes the monarch from any personal exercise of governmental power. The 1986 proclamation was an exception, approved by Australian ministers.
^ ab"Wind of Change". Commonwealth of Nations. 2016. සම්ප්රවේශය 2016-10-15.
^"Barbados to become a parliamentary republic by November 30". Loop News Barbados. 27 July 2021. සම්ප්රවේශය 30 July 2021. [...] we will make amendments to facilitate that transition to a new president to be sworn in on that day - November 30, 2021.
^Klaus Dierks (2 January 2005). "Chronology of Namibian History". www.klausdierks.com. Ch. 7: The period after Namibia'S independence. සම්ප්රවේශය 2023-02-10.
