The Gambia is to rejoin The Commonwealth within months – after four years outside the group of 52 states.

The Gambian government withdrew in 2013 under its then leader Yahya Jammeh, who called it a “neo-colonial institution”.

But Adama Barrow, who was sworn in as president in January, lived in Britain for three years when he was younger and has said he wants to rekindle ties.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is to visit the West African nation on Tuesday, where he will meet Mr Barrow and visit the British-funded Medical Research Council. </s> The Gambia is rejoining the Commonwealth, almost five years after it withdrew under the rule of ousted President Yahya Jammeh who branded it a “neo-colonial institution”.

The occasion will be marked at the Commonwealth’s headquarters in London later today.

President Adama Barrow applied for The Gambia’s readmission to the body soon after he took office last January.

Mr Jammeh fled into exile, ending 22 years of authoritarian rule in the small West African state – a popular tourist destination.

The Gambia will be the fourth country to return to the Commonwealth – after South Africa, Pakistan and Fiji.

Mr Jammeh clashed with the Commonwealth over his government’s poor human rights record.

Mr Barrow has sought to improve The Gambia’s relationship with Western governments, and to secure much-needed funding to tackle poverty and unemployment. </s> The Gambia has rejoined the Commonwealth after almost five years outside the institution, fulfilling a pledge made by the country’s president.

The West African state left the family of nations in 2013 after then President Yahya Jammeh’s administration stated in a televised address the Gambia would “never be a member of any neo-colonial institution”.

But a symbolic flag raising ceremony at Marlborough House, the London headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat – the institution’s civil service, will mark the country’s return under the leadership of President Adama Barrow.

Baroness Scotland, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Francis Blain, the Gambia’s high commissioner to London, and senior officials from the Commonwealth will attend the ceremony on Thursday.

The Secretary-General said: “When the Gambia left in 2013, the heads of government expressed their regret in its leaving the Commonwealth family.

“We’ve looked forward to the Gambia’s return and were delighted when, after his election victory in 2016, President Barrow pledged to return.

“The Gambia’s application to rejoin has been unanimously accepted by all 52-member states, who welcome back their brothers and sisters to again play their full part in the Commonwealth family.”

The decision to begin the re-admission process was made in February last year by President Barrow.

He was the surprise winner of elections in December 2016, beating the incumbent President Jammeh who had come to power in a bloodless coup in 1994.

Last December, the West African nation’s parliament unanimously affirmed the country’s desire to rejoin the Commonwealth, fulfilling one of the final steps in the organisation’s membership process.

Its application was unanimously supported by the Commonwealth’s 52-member states and the Gambia will now be invited to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in April in London.

Ahead of his country’s return to the Commonwealth Mr Blain said: “I am thrilled to represent my country as it formally rejoins the Commonwealth after an absence of several years – and to become high commissioner rather than ambassador.

“The Government and people of the Gambia will also draw on all that the Commonwealth collectively has to offer, assisting in practical ways to address a wide range of pressing issues – including protecting the environment and tackling climate change, and the empowerment of women and young people.”

The Gambia first became a member of the Commonwealth in 1965, when it gained independence from Britain. There are now 53 members of The Commonwealth, representing more than 2.4 billion people. </s> The Gambia was readmitted to the Commonwealth on Thursday, welcomed back into the fold after its sudden pullout in 2013 and following the democratic election last year of President Adama Barrow.

Former president Yahya Jammeh dramatically withdrew the impoverished west African nation in October 2013, branding the group an "extension of colonialism".

New President Adama Barrow began the readmission process in February last year, two months after topping an election after which Jammeh initially refused to give up his 22-year rule, triggering a crisis. </s> The Commonwealth has confirmed the successful readmission of Gambia into the global bloc. The West African country becomes the 53rd nation but fourth to rejoin.

The Gambia referred to as “smiling coast of West Africa” joins the likes of South Africa, Fiji and Pakistan who all left at a point and gained readmission.

In 2013, exiled President Yahya Jammeh, pulled the country out of the Commonwealth. Jammeh at the time gave the reason that the 52-member group was a ‘neo-colonial institution.’

After Jammeh’s shock defeat to then opposition candidate Adama Barrow in December 2016 elections, the Commonwealth intimated that its doors were open to a return by The Gambia. The Adama Barrow government have over the past year gone through the legal process of readmission.

Foreign Minister Ousainou Darboe in December 2017 notified parliament of the government’s decision to rejoin the Commonwealth union. The move was unanimously adopted by lawmakers who criticized how Jammeh unilaterally took them out of the union.

A December 2016 statement issued by Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said, “When The Gambia left the Commonwealth in 2013, heads of government, meeting in Colombo that year, noted this decision with regret, and looked forward to the country’s eventual return. Like every close knit family, our Commonwealth doors remain open.”

Beside the Commonwealth, Jammeh had announced the withdrawal of the Gambia from the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2016. Barrow rescinded the decision soon after taking office. It was one of the campaign promises of the then opposition coalition. </s> Gambia to rejoin The Commonwealth after four years

Gambia to rejoin The Commonwealth after four years

The Gambia is to rejoin The Commonwealth within months - after four years outside the group of 52 states.

The Gambian government withdrew in 2013 under its then leader Yahya Jammeh, who called it a "neo-colonial institution".

But Adama Barrow, who was sworn in as president in January, lived in Britain for three years when he was younger and has said he wants to rekindle ties.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is to visit the West African nation on Tuesday, where he will meet Mr Barrow and visit the British-funded Medical Research Council.

Image: Adama Barrow was cheered by crowds when he returned in January

Mr Johnson said he was "delighted" to be the first British foreign secretary to visit The Gambia since the country won its independence from Britain in 1965.

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"I am also very pleased that Gambia wants to rejoin the Commonwealth and we will ensure this happens in the coming months," he added.

Mr Barrow's path to the presidency was not smooth.

Millions missing as Jammeh leaves The Gambia

He had been a political unknown but was thrust into the limelight when eight opposition parties put him forward as a unifying figure.

The former Argos security guard defeated hardline ruler Yahya Jammeh in December, but Mr Jammeh clung to power, saying there had been irregularities in the election.

Troops from other West African countries prepared to cross the border to force him to cede power and Britons in the country were warned to get out amid safety concerns.

After a lengthy stalemate, Mr Jammeh finally went into exile and Mr Barrow returned from Senegal, where he had taken refuge.

Mr Jammeh, who had been in power for 22 years, has been accused of emptying the country's banks of 500m Gambian dalasis (£9.2m) in the last two weeks of his reign. </s> Gambia is set to rejoin the Commonwealth under its new President Adama Barrow, who had promised to return the West African nation to the group during his presidential campaigning.

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who is on a two-day visit to Gambia and Ghana, has welcomed the move. "I'm delighted to be the first foreign secretary to visit Gambia ... and I am also very pleased that Gambia wants to rejoin the Commonwealth and we will ensure this happens in the coming months."

"The strength of our partnerships shows that Global Britain is growing in influence and activity around the world," he added.

With this step, Gambia will become the fourth country to rejoin the Commonwealth, following South Africa, Pakistan and Fiji. The country had left the group of 52 member states in October 2013 under former president Yahya Jammeh, calling it a "neo-colonial institution".

"The Gambia will never be a member of any neo-colonial institution and will never be a party to any institution that represents an extension of colonialism", a statement from that time had said.

However, under the new administration of President Barrow, Gambia has reversed its policies. Barrow has said that the ties between his country and its former colonial ruler would be transformed under his government.

Gambia's new government would also remain in the International Criminal Court (ICC.) Jammeh had earlier said he would pull his country out of the ICC, alleging that the court only prosecuted Africans while disregarding alleged war crimes of the West.

"As a new government that has committed itself to the promotion of human rights ... we reaffirm The Gambia's commitment to the principles enshrined in the Rome Statue of the International Criminal Court," an official statement said. </s> BANJUL (Reuters) – Gambia has rejoined the Commonwealth, the tiny West African former British colony’s foreign ministry said on Thursday, five years after its now exiled former authoritarian leader withdrew his country, calling it a “neo-colonial institution”.

During his 23-year rule, Yahya Jammeh, who fled Gambia a year ago after regional militaries launched an operation to remove him, repeatedly clashed with British authorities over criticisms of his government’s human rights record.

He withdrew Gambia from the grouping, which includes Britain and most of its former colonies, in 2013.

“The Gambia is ready to regain its former glory on theinternational stage and reiterates its commitment to the fundamental values of the Commonwealth Charter,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Though its sandy beaches have made it a popular destination for sun-seeking European tourists, under Jammeh Gambia also garnered a reputation as a repressive state where journalists and political opponents were jailed, tortured and even murdered.

President Adama Barrow, who won a December 2016 election that Jammeh rejected, is attempting to reverse many of his predecessor’s most controversial decisions and rehabilitate Gambia’s image abroad.

He also halted Gambia’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court.

“It is the fervent desire of this government that our membership to the Commonwealth will usher in an era of socio-economic development,” the foreign ministry statement said.

(Reporting by Pap Saine; Writing by Joe Bavier; Editing by Catherine Evans) </s> LONDON - The Gambia was readmitted to the Commonwealth on Thursday, welcomed back into the fold after its sudden pullout in 2013 and following the democratic election last year of President Adama Barrow.

Former president Yahya Jammeh dramatically withdrew the impoverished west African nation in October 2013, branding the group an "extension of colonialism".

New President Adama Barrow began the readmission process in February last year, two months after topping an election after which Jammeh initially refused to give up his 22-year rule, triggering a crisis.

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's formal application last month for The Gambia to rejoin the Commonwealth received unanimous backing from the other members.

A formal ceremony later on Thursday will mark the occasion.

The decision means there are once again 53 member states in the Commonwealth, the voluntary association of mostly former territories of the British empire.

The Gambia will now be invited to attend the organisation's biennial summit, to be held in London in April.

To mark The Gambia's readmittance, a flag-raising ceremony was to take place at 1100 GMT in the gardens of Marlborough House, the Commonwealth Secretariat's headquarters in central London.

"When The Gambia left in 2013, the heads of government expressed their regret in its leaving the Commonwealth family," Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said.

"We've looked forward to The Gambia's return and were delighted when... President Barrow pledged to return.

"The Gambia's application to rejoin has been unanimously accepted by all 52-member states, who welcome back their brothers and sisters to again play their full part in the Commonwealth family."

The Gambia first became a Commonwealth member on its independence from Britain in 1965.

Francis Blain, The Gambia's representative in London, said: "The Gambia looks forward to being able both to contribute to and benefit from the collective wisdom of the Commonwealth family of countries, and to playing an active role in supporting the work of the Commonwealth Secretariat."
The Gambia formally rejoins the Commonwealth five years after its former President Yahya Jammeh withdrew the West African country, calling it a "neocolonial institution".