The Gambia Rejoins The Commonwealth of Nations After Ex President Exited

Gambia is rejoining the Commonwealth of Nations, almost five years after it withdrew under the rule of ex-President Yahya Jammeh who branded it a "extension of colonial institution".

 The newly sworn-in Gambia's President Adama Barrow whose formal application to rejoin the Commonwealth, submitted last month, received unanimous support from member states.

"Gambia is ready to regain its former glory on the international stage and reiterates its commitment to the fundamental values of the Commonwealth Charter," the Gambian government said in a statement.

 The Gambia is the fourth country to rejoin having left after South Africa, Pakistan and Fiji. Ireland (1949), Zimbabwe (2003) and the Maldives (2016) are the only other countries to have quit the group.