Tariq Mahmood Ahmad, Baron Ahmad of Wimbledon, has said that he is hopeful that Maldives will re-join the Commonwealth before the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda.

Lord Ahmed, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs at the British Foreign Office, said this while responding to a question from Lord Waverley at the UK House of Lords regarding fast tracking Maldives’ readmittance to the Commonwealth.

Lord Ahmad said that he welcomes Maldives’ application and has discussed the process with Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid.

Lord Waverley had also met with Maldives Ambassador to UK Dr Farahnaz Faisal to discuss the readmittance process and other mutual interests of Maldives and the UK.

Maldives left the Commonwealth during the previous administration, amid mounting pressure from the group over corruption and deteriorating human rights.

Rejoining the organization is a pledge of the new government.