**Rwanda has announced that it has become the 54th member of the Commonwealth.**The African country was admitted at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Trinidad and Tobago.
A Rwandan government spokesman said the accession recognised Rwanda’s “tremendous progress” over the last 15 years, according to a Rwandan paper.
The former colony of Germany and Belgium is the second country to be admitted without a British colonial past or constitutional link to Britain.
Mozambique is the only other Commonwealth member without historic UK ties.
It joined the organisation 14 years ago.
Information minister Louise Mushikiwabo is quoted by the online edition of the Rwandan daily New Times as saying Rwanda was pleased by its admission.
“Rwandans are ready to seize economic, political, cultural and other opportunities offered by the Commonwealth network,” she said.
Rwanda expressed its desire to join the Commonwealth in 2008, despite its historic association with Francophone countries.
Relations between France and Rwanda have been poor for years.
A French judge implicated Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame in the Rwandan genocide of 1994, an accusation which he rejected.
The Rwandan government has accused France of having backed the forces that went on to instigate the genocide.
The Rwandan New Times said Rwanda’s bid to join the group was supported by Britain, Australia, Canada and India.
It also had the backing of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa and the host country Trinidad and Tobago, among others.