A delegation from the Kingdom of Lesotho recently visited The Bahamas to garner support for their candidate’s bid to become the next Commonwealth Secretary General.
The visit, which took place on May 10, included high-level meetings with Bahamian officials, underscoring the strategic diplomacy in the lead-up to the Commonwealth election.
High-level diplomatic engagements
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Bahamas reported that the Lesotho delegation was led by Deputy Prime Minister Justice Nthomeng Majara.
The team engaged in talks with the acting Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Glenys Hanna Martin, and the Minister of Economic Affairs, Michael Halkitis.
These discussions are part of Lesotho’s broader effort to strengthen ties and secure endorsements from various Commonwealth member states.
The race for leadership
Joshua Phoho Setipa, the former Minister of Trade and Industry of Lesotho, is actively campaigning to lead the Commonwealth.
He is competing against Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the Minister of Foreign Affairs from Ghana, who is also vying for the position.
Over the past several weeks, Setipa has been visiting member states, including various Caribbean nations, to promote his candidacy and outline his vision for the Commonwealth.
Support dynamics within the Commonwealth
The competition is intense, with Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey already securing support from Antigua and Barbuda, along with several other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states.
Her endorsements came following her interactions with leaders during the 46th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM in Georgetown, Guyana, held in February.
Upcoming elections and historical context
The election for the next Secretary-General will take place at the 27th Meeting of Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) scheduled in Samoa from October 21 to 26, 2024.
The elected candidate will follow in the footsteps of Chief Emeka Anyaoku of Nigeria, who served as Secretary General from 1990 to 2000, marking the second time an African will hold this esteemed position if one of the current candidates is elected.
