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Conflict Prevention

The 'Good Offices' role of the Secretary-General is the Commonwealth's primary mechanism for addressing political problems and conflicts where they arise.

Ceremonial handing over of the Swaziland draft constitution

At their March 2002 Meeting in Coolum, Australia, Heads of Government approved the conclusions of the Commonwealth High Level Review Group (HLRG) which included a call for more proactive use of the good offices role. In line with the Group's recommendations, a Good Offices Section was subsequently established within the Secretariat's Political Affairs Division (PAD) in May 2003.

The Secretariat’s Good Offices Section provides an early warning mechanism, proposes measures for preventative action, and is responsible for co-ordinating integrated approaches to conflict and political tensions within member states. Since it's establishment there has been a significant increase in the scope and depth of the Secretary-General’s good offices role.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General has used his Good Offices to defuse successfully crises or tensions in a number of Commonwealth countries in recent years. They include: 

Fiji Islands:  Special Envoy Hon Justice Pius Langa (former Deputy President of the Constitutional Court of South Africa and Chief Justice of South Africa) facilitated dialogue between key stakeholders to encourage the formation of a government in accordance with the Constitution. Technical assistance was also provided to the Government and other institutions to strengthen democratic processes and institutions. 

Lesotho:  The Commonwealth promoted agreement on contentious political issues in the wake of the 1998 elections. Working closely with other international partners, the Commonwealth facilitated an agreement between the Government and the Opposition, resulting in the development of a series of reforms for the electoral and Parliamentary system.

Swaziland: The Commonwealth was assisted by Sir Ketumile Masire (former President of Botswana) to facilitate the adoption of a new constitution in 2005 that more effectively protects human rights and fundamental freedoms and provides a more transparent and democratic political environment.  

Zanzibar (United Republic of Tanzania): The Commonwealth worked with the Government in facilitating the implementation of the peace agreement (Muafaka) between the governing party and the opposition. The Commonwealth remains the moral guarantor of that agreement. 

Member countries in which the Commonwealth is currently active include: 

Cameroon:  A Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, Rt. Hon Joe Clark (former Prime Minister of Canada) is leading the Commonwealth’s engagement with the Government of Cameroon to assist in the implementation of a wide range of reforms in election management, human rights, the judiciary and decentralisation.   Mr Clark was preceded in the role by Hon Christine Stewart (former Canadian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs).

The Gambia:   A Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (Former Head of State of Nigeria) is promoting dialogue between political parties and the strengthening of democratic processes and institutions, including the independent electoral commission and the judiciary. 

Guyana:  A Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, Sir Paul Reeves (Former Governor-General and Archbishop of New Zealand) has been assisting in the promotion of dialogue between the main political parties and encouraging a more inclusive political environment that has the confidence of all stakeholders.

Kenya:  A Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, Professor Adebayo Adedeji (Nigerian, former United Nations Under-Secretary General and Head of the UN Economic Commission for Africa) facilitated dialogue between the political parties.

Maldives: The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy, Tun Musa Hitam (former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia) is working in support of the implementation of the Government’s ongoing constitutional and electoral reform processes in line with Commonwealth’s fundamental political values and best practice. 

Tonga: The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy, Sir Douglas Graham (Former New Zealand Minister of Justice and Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations) has been working to strengthen the authority and capacity of the Legislative Assembly, and of the Government’s constitutional reform process.

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