Republics in the Commonwealth of Nations

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The Commonwealth republics, shown in pink

A Commonwealth republic is any one of the 31 sovereign states of the Commonwealth of Nations that have a republican form of government. In contrast to the 16 Commonwealth realms, they are not in a personal union relationship, do not have Elizabeth II as their respective Head of state, nor do they have another monarch as Head of State. Elizabeth II is still the titular Head of the Commonwealth, but does not have any political power within the Commonwealth republics.

Thirty of the republics are former British self-governing colonies that have evolved into republics by various means. In most cases, the countries achieved independence as Commonwealth realms, and later became Commonwealth republics. In some instances, the countries became Commonwealth republics after achieving independence from other former British colonies (as Bangladesh did from Pakistan in 1971). The latest country to become a Commonwealth republic was Mauritius in 1992. The only member not to have been a British colony is Mozambique, which was a Portuguese colony.

History

Republics have been allowed as members of the Commonwealth since 1950, following the London Declaration. This declaration came about because India sought continued membership of the Commonwealth despite its republican status. As a compromise, republics within the Commonwealth are required to recognise Elizabeth II as Head of the Commonwealth, but not as their Head of state.

Following their independence from the United Kingdom, most Commonwealth countries retained Elizabeth II as head of state, the Monarch adopting a title to indicate sovereignty of their own respective nations (such as "Queen of Barbados", rather than "Queen of the United Kingdom"). South Africa and Ceylon (now called Sri Lanka) were the first to do this. With time, many Commonwealth realms moved to become republics, passing constitutional amendments or holding referendums to remove the monarch as their head of state, and replacing the Governor-General with an elected or appointed president. This was especially true in post-colonial Africa. Most African realms became republics within a few years of independence, and usually followed the Presidential system. Some states became Parliamentary republics, such as Malta or Fiji.

In Fiji, the change to a republic in 1987 came as a result of a military coup, rather than out of any republican sentiment, as Fiji's indigenous chiefs had voluntarily ceded their country to the Crown. Even when Fiji was not a member of the Commonwealth, symbols of the monarchy remained, including the Queen's portrait on banknotes and coins, and, unlike in the United Kingdom, the Queen's Official Birthday is a public holiday. When Fiji was readmitted to the Commonwealth, the issue of reinstating the Queen as Head of State was raised, but not pursued, although the country's Great Council of Chiefs reaffirmed that the Queen was still the country's 'Paramount Chief'.

Some Commonwealth republics became republics on gaining independence from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Remaining constitutional links

Most Commonwealth republics have removed all residual constitutional links to the United Kingdom Parliament. However, some allow appeals directly to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, such as Dominica, Mauritius, and if the case involves constitutional rights, Kiribati.

Commonwealth membership

Within the Commonwealth, there is no difference in status between the Commonwealth republics and Commonwealth realms or the other Commonwealth members, which are realms with their own monarchs (Brunei, Lesotho, Malaysia, Swaziland, and Tonga).

Though becoming a republic does not automatically require a change to Commonwealth membership, Commonwealth realms that become republics must still obtain the permission of other members to remain in the organisation after becoming a republic. Though this is usually only a formality, any member(s) against the proposal can block the membership of a republican state in the Commonwealth. However, the rejection of membership is often due to racial policies (as with apartheid South Africa in 1961, which did not re-apply for membership) pursued by the government, not republicanism. Fiji and the Maldives did not apply for continued membership after becoming republics, and thus lost their positions in the Commonwealth as of that time.

See also: Commonwealth of Nations: Other termination

Current Commonwealth republics

In some former Commonwealth realms, including Malta, Trinidad and Tobago, and Mauritius, the new office of President was a ceremonial post, usually held by the last Governor-General, each respective country being a Parliamentary republic. In others, such as Ghana, Malawi and Gambia, the Presidency was an executive post, usually first held by the last Prime Minister, with each respective country being a Presidential republic. In the latter cases not only was the monarchy abolished, but so was the entire Westminster system of parliamentary government as well.

List of Commonwealth republics

Former Commonwealth realms

List of former Commonwealth realms, by year of attaining republican status:

Note: The tables could be sorted alphabetically or chronologically using the "><" icon.

Member state Year of independence Year became a republic Republic created through Percentage won Type of president First president
1  India 1947 1950 Constitutional amendment Ceremonial New appointment
2  Pakistan 1947 19561 New constitution Ceremonial, later executive Incumbent Governor-General
3  Ghana 1957 1960 Referendum 88.47% Executive Incumbent Prime Minister
4  South Africa 1910 19612 Referendum 52.3% Ceremonial, later executive Incumbent Governor-General
5  Nigeria 1960 1963 Constitutional amendment Ceremonial, later executive Incumbent Governor-General
6  Uganda 1962 1963 Constitutional amendment Ceremonial, later executive New appointment
7  Kenya 1963 1964 Constitutional amendment Executive Incumbent Prime Minister
8  Tanzania 1961 19623 Constitutional amendment Executive Incumbent Prime Minister
9  Malawi 1964 1966 Constitutional amendment Executive Incumbent Prime Minister
10  Gambia 1965 1970 Referendum 62.3% Executive Incumbent Prime Minister
11  Guyana 1966 1970 Constitutional amendment Ceremonial, later executive New appointment
12  Sierra Leone 1961 1971 Constitutional amendment Executive Incumbent Prime Minister
13  Sri Lanka 1948 1972 New constitution Ceremonial, later executive Incumbent Governor-General
14  Malta 1964 1974 Constitutional amendment Ceremonial Incumbent Governor-General
15  Trinidad and Tobago 1962 1976 Constitutional amendment Ceremonial Incumbent Governor-General
16  Fiji 1970 19874 Military coup Ceremonial Incumbent Governor-General
17  Mauritius 1968 1992 Constitutional amendment Ceremonial Incumbent Governor-General5

1. Withdrew in 1972 in protest at Commonwealth recognition of Bangladesh; rejoined until 1989.
2. Withdrew in 1961; rejoined in 1994.
3. As Tanganyika - merged with Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanzania in 1964.
4. Commonwealth membership lapsed in 1987; rejoined in 1997; suspended in 2000; readmitted 2001; suspended in 2006.
5. Interim President, new appointment from June 1992.

Republics on independence

Member state Year of independence Republic created through Percentage won Type of president First president
1  Cyprus 19601 New constitution Executive New appointment
2  Cameroon 19612 New constitution Executive New appointment
3  Samoa 19623 New constitution Ceremonial New appointment
4  Zambia 1964 New constitution Executive Incumbent Prime Minister
5  Maldives 19654 Referendum ?? Executive New appointment
6  Singapore 19655 New constitution Ceremonial Incumbent Governor (as a state of Malaysia)
7  Botswana 1966 New constitution Executive Incumbent Prime Minister
8  Nauru 19686 New constitution Executive New appointment
9  Bangladesh 19717 New constitution Ceremonial New appointment
10  Mozambique 19758 New constitution Executive New appointment
11  Seychelles 1976 New constitution Executive New appointment
12  Dominica 1978 New constitution Ceremonial New appointment
13  Kiribati 1979 New constitution Executive Incumbent Prime Minister
14  Vanuatu 1980 New constitution Ceremonial New appointment
15  Namibia 19909 New constitution Executive New appointment

1. Cyprus became a member of the Commonwealth in 1961.
2. Cameroon became a member of the Commonwealth in 1995.
3. Samoa became a member of the Commonwealth in 1970, but its heads of state were originally two traditional chiefs, but was de jure a republic; after the death of the last traditional chief, the new head of state was chosen for a five-year term by Samoa's parliament.
4. The Maldives became a republic in 1968 (prior to which it had been an independent sultanate), but had never been a member of the Commonwealth; the Maldives joined in 1982.
5. Singapore was formerly part of Malaysia.
6. Nauru became an independent republic in 1968, but did not become a full member of the Commonwealth until 2000.
7. Bangladesh was formerly East Pakistan.
8. Mozambique's independence as a republic was attained from Portugal in 1975. It became a member of the Commonwealth in 1995.
9. Namibia was formerly a League of Nations Mandated Territory administered by South Africa and continued to be de facto administed by South Africa until independence

Former Commonwealth republics

Currently, the only former Commonwealth republics are:

  •  Zimbabwe, republic since 1980, left the Commonwealth in 2003.
  •  Fiji, republic since 1987, suspended from the Commonwealth in 2006.

Potential Commonwealth republics

Republics on independence

A number of former British colonies became republics on or since independence, but did not join the Commonwealth, or would not have been permitted to as republics were not allowed to remain in the Commonwealth at the time of their independence. These states are not former Commonwealth members per se, but would be entitled to membership of the Commonwealth as republics.

These republics are:

Should the State of Palestine (part of the former British mandate of Palestine) achieve statehood, it could be added to this list. Owing to their military governments, Burma, now also called Myanmar, and the Sudan are unlikely to be admitted as members.

1. Burma and Israel became republics on independence, prior to the London Declaration, which allowed republics to be members of the Commonwealth.
2. Ireland had been a de facto republic since 1937, with a President, but recognised the British monarch for the purposes of external relations. Was regarded as a Dominion (the former description of a Commonwealth realm) by the other members of the Commonwealth until its formal declaration of a republic.

Other republics include territory that was previously under British rule, and could qualify for membership following the precedent set by Cameroon, which joined in 1995.

See also

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