Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group

The Commonwealth places a high priority on being a family of peaceful, democratic countries which promotes and protects shared values, including the political values of democracy, the separation of powers, rule of law and human rights. Established more than 30 years ago in 1995, CMAG is the custodian of these fundamental political values.

Mandate

In its early years, CMAG focused on unconstitutional changes in government including military coups. In 2011, Commonwealth leaders broadened the mandate of CMAG to engage more proactively and constructively with countries where Commonwealth fundamental political values are at risk.

Today, the Group responds to any serious or persistent violation of our fundamental values, such as the abrogation of constitutions, suspension of parliaments, alleged election irregularities, denial of political space, undermining of the judiciary or the rule of law, human rights abuses, or restrictions on the media and civil society.

In 2011, Commonwealth Heads of Government in Perth adopted the Report on Strengthening the Role of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group. Heads outlined the following: CMAG may agree measures for collective action including dialogue, decisive action, that supplement the trusted role of the Secretary-General’s Good Offices. In grave cases CMAG may agree to suspending membership of the Commonwealth member concerned or even recommend expulsion.

The Secretary-General and CMAG will consider such circumstances that include but are not limited to:

Serious threats or overturning the democratic constitution
Blocking parliament or key democratic institution
Delaying elections without valid reason
Systemic restriction of political freedoms or detaining leaders
Seriously flawed electoral processes
Undermining the rule of law or judicial independence
Committing widespread human rights violations
Limiting media or civil society from doing their work

Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) round a table

Composition

CMAG is made up of a rotating group of 9 Ministers of Foreign Affairs. Eight are from our different regions and the Minister of Foreign Affairs from the host country of the previous Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting sits as the Commonwealth Chairperson-in-Office. Meetings are convened by the Commonwealth Secretary-General.

The current members are: Antigua and Barbuda, Botswana, Canada, Grenada, Malaysia, Malta (Chair) Mauritius, Samoa (Commonwealth Chair in Office) and Zambia (Deputy-Chair).

CMAG statements

(September 2025)
(July 2025)
(March 2025)
(September 2024)
(March 2024)
(September 2023)
(March 2023)
Concluding Statement of the 60th CMAG (May 2022)
Concluding Statement of the 59th CMAG (December 2021)
Concluding Statement of the 58th CMAG (March 2021)
Concluding Statement of the 57th CMAG (October 2020)
Concluding Statement of the 56th CMAG (April 2020)
Concluding Statement of the 55th CMAG (September 2019)
June 2019)
(September 2018)
(September 2017)
(March 2017)

��