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| Incumbent Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland |
KIGALI, June 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Heads of Government are expected to decide on the next substantive Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Secretariat in Kigali this week.
Although the decision is made by consensus, should the leaders decide not to reappoint the incumbent Baroness Patricia Scotland — who has served her first term for six years instead of four — a vote will take place. The pandemic forced the postponement of an election in 2020.
A Commonwealth Secretary-General can serve a maximum of two terms of four years each.
“The election of the new SG is one of the most important items on the agenda. The issue was already in dispute because the current SG is seeking re-election yet many members are against her,” a diplomat told The EastAfrican.
The incumbent faces opposition from Jamaica’s Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Kamina Johnson, who has already been endorsed by two influential members of the bloc, the UK and India.
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2022 will take place during the week of 20 June 2022, in Kigali, Rwanda. — NNN-AGENCIES
