Commonwealth’s Secretary General, Patricia Scotland has said that Maldives’ decision to re-join the organization “is encouraging.”

The country left the Commonwealth during former President Abdulla Yameen’s administration in October 2016, amid mounting pressure from the group over corruption and deteriorating human rights.

The move came after a warning by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, to suspend the Maldives “if the political crisis triggered by the jailing of opposition leaders is not resolved.”

Yameen’s government had accused the Commonwealth of interfering in domestic affairs and “unfair and unjust” treatment.

After assuming office on November 17, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s ministerial cabinet passed to re-join the group just two days later; commencing the work to re-join the Commonwealth is included in the president’s ambitious “100-day agenda”.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Secretary-General Scotland revealed that after hearing of Maldives’ decision to leave the Commonwealth, she had “hoped the separation would be temporary.”

“So the decision to seek readmission as a member of the Commonwealth family is encouraging.  We very much look forward to engaging with the government and people of Maldives as the application for membership is considered,” she added.

The Commonwealth noted that to re-join the Commonwealth, the country “must demonstrate that it complies with the fundamental values set out in the Commonwealth Charter through an informal assessment undertaken by the Secretary General.

The secretary general must then “consult with member countries, and if there is agreement, invite Maldives to make a formal application, presenting evidence of functioning democratic processes and popular support for rejoining the Commonwealth.”

The request for readmission was sent in early December, where President Solih reiterated his administration’s “determination to uphold and practice the principles enumerated in the Charter of the Commonwealth, and the Harare Declaration.”

He further noted that his administration “does not believe in the success of such endeavours whilst maintaining a policy of isolation from the outside world.”

Maldives fist became a member of the Commonwealth on 9th July 1982.