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{{Use British English|date=August 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{update}}
[[Image:Commonwealth republics.svg|thumb|400px|The republics in the Commonwealth of Nations, shown in red]]
 
The '''republics in the [[Commonwealth of Nations]]''' are the [[sovereign state]]s in the organisation with a [[republic]]an form of government. {{As of|June 2022}}, 36 out of the 56 member states were republics. While [[ElizabethCharles IIIII]], who is the titular [[reign]]ingHead monarch inof the [[Commonwealth realm]]s, isthe alsoKing stillis not the titularhead [[Headof state of the Commonwealth]]republican (butmembers. notThe theKing headis ofhowever, the members[[reign]]ing ofmonarch in the [[Commonwealth) inrealm]]s. aThe personalHead capacity.of Thisthe Commonwealth role does not carry with it any power; instead, it is a symbol of the free association of Commonwealth members.<ref name="S.A. Smith">{{cite journal |last=de Smith |first=S.A. |title=The London Declaration of the Commonwealth Prime Ministers, April 28, 1949 |journal=The Modern Law Review |volume=12 |issue=3 |pages=351–354 |date=July 1949 |jstor=1090506 |doi=10.1111/j.1468-2230.1949.tb00131.x |doi-access=free}}</ref>
 
Except for [[Gabon]], the [[Portuguese Mozambique|former Portuguese possession of Mozambique]] and, the [[Ruanda-Urundi|former Belgian trust territory of Rwanda]], and the former French possessions of [[French Equatorial Africa|Gabon]] and [[French Togoland|Togo]], they are all former [[British Empire|British (or partly British) colonies]] or [[self-governing colonies]] that have evolved into republics. Most of the Commonwealth's members achieved independence while keeping the [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|British monarch]] as their own individual [[head of state]] (in a form of [[personal union]]) and later became republics within the Commonwealth by abolishing the monarchy. In some other instances, the countries became republics after achieving independence from other former British colonies (as, for example, [[Bangladesh]] did from [[Pakistan]] in 1971 as a result of the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]]).
 
==History==
Republics have been permitted as members of the Commonwealth since the [[London Declaration]] made on 28 April 1949. Ten days before that declaration, the [[Republic of Ireland]] had been declared, ensuring most of [[Ireland]]'s self-exclusion from the Commonwealth, as republics were not allowed in the Commonwealth at that time ([[Northern Ireland]], as part of the United Kingdom, remained within the Commonwealth). The Republic of Ireland did not re-apply for membership of the Commonwealth, despite being eligible to do so under the London Declaration.
 
The declaration was made by [[India]] to allow it to continue its membership of the Commonwealth despite its decision, implemented on 26 January 1950, to adopt a new Constitution and become a republic, abolishing the monarchy. Thus, India became the first republic within the Commonwealth. This set a precedent that all other countries were free to follow, as long as they each recognised the position of [[Head of the Commonwealth]]. A compromise between the Indian government and those, such as [[Jan Smuts]],<ref>{{cite journal |title=1949–1999: Fifty Years of a Renewing Commonwealth |journal=[[The Round Table Journal|The Round Table]] |volume=88 |issue=350 |pages=1–27 |date=April 1999 |doi=10.1080/003585399108072}}</ref> who wished not to allow republics membership, the Declaration read:
{{quote|The Government of India have ... declared and affirmed India's desire to continue her full membership of the Commonwealth of Nations and her acceptance of the King as the symbol of the free association of its independent member nations and as such the Head of the Commonwealth.<ref name="S.A. Smith" />}}
 
Following their independence from the United Kingdom, most Commonwealth countries retained Queen [[Elizabeth II]] as head of state, who was represented in the country by a [[Governor-General]]. The monarch adopted a title to indicate the individual sovereignty of each of these nations (such as "[[Queen of BarbadosBelize]]"). With time, many of these countries became republics, passing [[constitutional amendment]]s or holding [[referendum]]s 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. As of 20212022, there are 15 [[states headed by QueenKing Elizabeth II[[Charles III]], which are known as [[Commonwealth realm]]s.
 
Commonwealth republics usually followed the [[presidential system]]. Some states became [[parliamentary republic]]s, such as [[Malta]] or [[Fiji]]. In Fiji, the change to a republic in 1987 came as a result of two military coups, rather than out of any popular republican sentiment.
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Some republics within the Commonwealth became republics on gaining independence from the United Kingdom; again, this was particularly true in Africa.
 
While the moves to both independence and republican status have broken the remaining constitutional links to the United Kingdom, a number of Commonwealth countries have retained a right of appeal directly to the [[Judicial Committee of the Privy Council]]; for example, [[Mauritius]], and (if the case involves constitutional rights) [[Kiribati]]. In contrast with Commonwealth realms and [[British Overseas Territories]], however, such appeals are made directly to the Judicial Committee, rather than formally being made to "HerHis Majesty in Council".
 
==Commonwealth membership==
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===Current republics in the Commonwealth===
In some countries that became republics some time after independence, including [[Malta]], [[Mauritius]], and [[Trinidad and Tobago]], the new office of president was a ceremonial post, usually held by the last governor-general, each respective country being a [[Parliamentaryparliamentary republic]]. In others, such as [[Gambia]], [[Ghana]], and [[Malawi]], the presidency was an executive post, usually first held by the last prime minister, with each respective country being a [[Presidential system|Presidentialpresidential 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 republics==
===Republics onsince independence===
 
In each case, the republic was created through a new constitution.
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| align="center" |Ceremonial
| align="center" |New appointment
|Formerly a League of Nations Mandated Territory and a United Nations Trust Territory administered by New Zealand
|
|-
|{{RWA}}
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|{{ZAM}}
| align="center" |1964
| align="center" |1964
|
| align="center" |Executive
| align="center" |Incumbent Prime Minister
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|{{SIN}}
| align="center" |1965
| align="center" |1966
|
| align="center" |Ceremonial
| align="center" |Incumbent [[Yang di-Pertuan Negara|Governor]]<br>(as a state of Malaysia)
|Formerly part of Malaysia from 1963 to 1965, when Singapore was expelledseparated from Malaysia.<br>Previously a separate Crown colony of United Kingdom from 1946.
|-
|{{BOT}}
| align="center" |1966
| align="center" |1966
|
| align="center" |Executive
| align="center" |Incumbent Prime Minister
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| align="center" |Executive
| align="center" |New appointment
|Formerly a League of Nations Mandated Territory and a United Nations Trust Territory administered by Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, ''de facto'' administered by Australia alone.<br>Became an independent republic in 1968, albeit, with [[special membership of the Commonwealth of Nations]] until 2000
|-
|{{BAN}}
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|{{SEY}}
| align="center" |1976
| align="center" |1976
|
| align="center" |Executive
| align="center" |New appointment
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| align="center" |Ceremonial
| align="center" |New appointment
|Formerly the [[New Hebrides]], when it was an Anglo-French [[Condominium (international law)|condominium]] (1906–1980) until its accession to independence.
|
|-
|{{NAM}}
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|align="center"|1966
|align="center"|1970
|align="center"|[[List of countries by system of government#Parliamentary republics with an executive president|Parliamentary republic with an executive presidency]]
|align="center"|Incumbent Governor-General (interim)
|-----
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|align="center"|1910<sup>1</sup>
|align="center"|1961
|align="center"|[[List of countries by system of government#Parliamentary republics with an executive president|Parliamentary republic with an executive presidency]]
|align="center"|Incumbent Governor-General
|-----
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|align="center"|Incumbent Governor-General
|-----
|{{UGA}}<sup>3</sup>
|align="center"|1962
|align="center"|19631966
|align="center"|[[Presidential system|Presidential republic]]
|align="center"|New appointment
|}
 
{{smalldiv|1=
<small>1.# The Union of South Africa was formed in 1910 as a semi-sovereign nation and associated state, then became fully sovereign in 1931 with the [[Statute of Westminster 1931|Statute of Westminster]].
 
2.# The United Republic of Tanzania was formed in 1964 from the merger of [[Tanganyika (1961–1964)|Tanganyika]], which had gained independence in 1961 and became a republic in 1962, and [[Zanzibar]], which had gained independence in 1963. </small>
# The Queen was removed as Uganda's head of state in 1963 and replaced by an indigenous elective monarch with the title President. Uganda's elective monarchy was abolished and it became a republic in 1966.
}}
 
===Republics formerly in the Commonwealth===
 
Currently, the only former Commonwealth republics are:
* {{IRL}}, also known as the Republic of Ireland, is a republic and a former member of the Commonwealth; however, it does not fit neatly into a category as such. In 1922, as the ''[[Irish Free State]]'', it became a [[dominion]] in the [[British Commonwealth]]. In 1937, the present-day Irish state, officially called ''Ireland'', was established. Its [[Constitution of Ireland|Constitution]] established it as a ''[[de facto]]'' republic with little reference to a ''monarchy'' but equally no reference to a ''republic'' either (see [[Irish head of state from 19361922 to 1949]] for further discussion on this ambiguity). The Commonwealth chose at the time to continue to regard it as a member as the monarch (then [[King George VI]]) was still officially the head of state. In April 1949, following the passage of the [[Republic of Ireland Act 1948]], it was deemed by the Commonwealth to be a republic and thus to have ceased to be part of the Commonwealth.
* {{ZIM}}, a republic since 18 April 1980, left the Commonwealth in December 2003. In 2018, the government of [[Emmerson Mnangagwa]] and his government have applied for Zimbabwe to return to its membership ofrejoin the Commonwealth.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.africanews.com/2018/05/21/zimbabwe-officially-applies-to-rejoin-commonwealth |title=Zimbabwe officially applies to rejoin Commonwealth |date=May 21, 2018 |website=[[Africanews]] |access-date=3 February 2020 |archive-date=3 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203224548/https://www.africanews.com/2018/05/21/zimbabwe-officially-applies-to-rejoin-commonwealth/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
 
==Eligibility of other republics to join the Commonwealth==
 
{{main|Commonwealth of Nations membership criteria#Prospective members|l1=Commonwealth of Nations membership criteria > Prospective members}}
 
[[Image:Commonwealth of Nations interested states.png|right|500px|thumb|{{Legend|#0000FF|Commonwealth of Nations [[member states of the Commonwealth of Nations|member states]]}}
 
{{Legend|#0080FF|Commonwealth of Nations member state [[Dependent territory|dependencies]]}}
 
{{Legend|#FF8040|Applied or interested non-member states, some of them without historic constitutional association}}
 
{{Legend|#008000|Non-member states that were [[British protectorate]]s, [[Crown colony|colonies]], [[League of Nations mandate|mandates]] or under some other type of [[British Empire|British administration]]}}]]
The 2007 [[Commonwealth of Nations membership criteria#Kampala review|Kampala review]] of the [[Edinburgh Declaration]] delimits the nations eligible for admission to the Commonwealth to those with "a historic constitutional association with an existing Commonwealth member, save in exceptional circumstances". Various republics have a historic association with the United Kingdom as being former British-administrated territories. The 2009 admission of Rwanda, which has no such association, was made under the "exceptional circumstances" proviso.<ref name="New Times">{{cite news |title=Rwanda: Joining the Commonwealth |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200911270058.html |url-status=live |work=[[The New Times (Rwanda)|The New Times]] |publisher=AllAfrica |date=27 November 2009 |access-date=29 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091201045103/http://allafrica.com/stories/200911270058.html |archive-date=1 December 2009}}</ref>▼
 
▲The 2007 [[Commonwealth of Nations membership criteria#Kampala review|Kampala review]] of the [[Edinburgh Declaration]] delimits the nations eligible for admission to the Commonwealth to those with "a historic constitutional association with an existing Commonwealth member, save in exceptional circumstances". Various republics have a historic association with the United Kingdom as being former British-administratedadministered territories. The 2009 admission of Rwanda, which has no such association, was made under the "exceptional circumstances" proviso.<ref name="New Times">{{cite news |title=Rwanda: Joining the Commonwealth |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200911270058.html |url-status=live |work=[[The New Times (Rwanda)|The New Times]] |publisher=AllAfrica |date=27 November 2009 |access-date=29 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091201045103/http://allafrica.com/stories/200911270058.html |archive-date=1 December 2009}}</ref> However, in 2022, Gabon and Togo, which were former French colonies, became new members of the Commonwealth.
The republics of [[South Sudan]],<ref>{{cite web |title=South Sudan Launches Bid to Join Commonwealth |url=http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/ArticleView/mid/519/articleId/5418/South-Sudan-Launches-Bid-to-Join-Commonwealth.aspx |url-status=live |work=gurtong.net |access-date=15 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406141603/http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/ArticleView/mid/519/articleId/5418/South-Sudan-Launches-Bid-to-Join-Commonwealth.aspx |archive-date=6 April 2020}}</ref> [[Sudan]],<ref name="Membership">{{cite news |last=Howden |first=Daniel |title=The Big Question: What is the Commonwealth's role, and is it relevant to global politics? |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/the-big-question-what-is-the-commonwealths-role-and-is-it-relevant-to-global-politics-1827478.html |url-status=live |work=The Independent |location=London |date=26 November 2009 |access-date=21 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119004751/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/the-big-question-what-is-the-commonwealths-role-and-is-it-relevant-to-global-politics-1827478.html |archive-date=19 January 2012}}</ref> and [[Suriname]]<ref name="Suriname plans to join the Commonwealth">{{cite web|url=http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/12377129-suriname-plans-to-join-the-commonwealth |title=Welcome to Allvoices |work=allvoices.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130625094503/http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/12377129-suriname-plans-to-join-the-commonwealth |archive-date=2013-06-25}}</ref> have formally made applications, while other republics have expressed interest.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/the-big-question-what-is-the-commonwealths-role-and-is-it-relevant-to-global-politics-1827478.html|location=London|work=The Independent|first=Daniel|last=Howden|title=The Big Question: What is the Commonwealth's role, and is it relevant to global politics?|date=26 November 2009|access-date=21 November 2017|archive-date=19 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119004751/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/the-big-question-what-is-the-commonwealths-role-and-is-it-relevant-to-global-politics-1827478.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last = Osike | first = Felix | title = Rwanda membership delayed | url = http://www.sundayvision.co.ug/detail.php?mainNewsCategoryId=7&newsCategoryId=123&newsId=598876 | work = [[New Vision]] | date = 24 November 2007 | access-date =29 November 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123172352/http://www.sundayvision.co.ug/detail.php?mainNewsCategoryId=7&newsCategoryId=123&newsId=598876|archive-date=23 January 2013}}</ref> The United States ([[Thirteen Colonies]]), Israel ([[Mandate for Palestine]]), [[Republic of Ireland]] ([[Irish Free State]]), and the [[Arab states of the Persian Gulf|Persian Gulf states]], as former possessions of the British empire, are eligible for membership but have shown no interest.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theconversation.com/why-the-commonwealth-endures-despite-being-written-off-by-the-left-and-the-right-47142|title=Why the Commonwealth endures despite being written off by the left and the right|access-date=7 July 2021|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709204828/https://theconversation.com/why-the-commonwealth-endures-despite-being-written-off-by-the-left-and-the-right-47142|url-status=live}}</ref>▼
 
▲The republics of [[South Sudan]],<ref>{{cite web |title=South Sudan Launches Bid to Join Commonwealth |url=http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/ArticleView/mid/519/articleId/5418/South-Sudan-Launches-Bid-to-Join-Commonwealth.aspx |url-status=live |work=gurtong.net |access-date=15 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406141603/http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/ArticleView/mid/519/articleId/5418/South-Sudan-Launches-Bid-to-Join-Commonwealth.aspx |archive-date=6 April 2020}}</ref> [[Sudan]],<ref name="Membership">{{cite news |last=Howden |first=Daniel |title=The Big Question: What is the Commonwealth's role, and is it relevant to global politics? |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/the-big-question-what-is-the-commonwealths-role-and-is-it-relevant-to-global-politics-1827478.html |url-status=live |work=The Independent |location=London |date=26 November 2009 |access-date=21 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119004751/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/the-big-question-what-is-the-commonwealths-role-and-is-it-relevant-to-global-politics-1827478.html |archive-date=19 January 2012}}</ref>{{Clarify|date=January 2023}} and [[Suriname]]<ref name="Suriname plans to join the Commonwealth">{{cite web|url=http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/12377129-suriname-plans-to-join-the-commonwealth |title=Welcome to Allvoices |work=allvoices.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130625094503/http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/12377129-suriname-plans-to-join-the-commonwealth |archive-date=2013-06-25}}</ref> have formally made applications, while other republics have expressed interest.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/the-big-question-what-is-the-commonwealths-role-and-is-it-relevant-to-global-politics-1827478.html|location=London|work=The Independent|first=Daniel|last=Howden|title=The Big Question: What is the Commonwealth's role, and is it relevant to global politics?|date=26 November 2009|access-date=21 November 2017|archive-date=19 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119004751/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/the-big-question-what-is-the-commonwealths-role-and-is-it-relevant-to-global-politics-1827478.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last = Osike | first = Felix | title = Rwanda membership delayed | url = http://www.sundayvision.co.ug/detail.php?mainNewsCategoryId=7&newsCategoryId=123&newsId=598876 | work = [[New Vision]] | date = 24 November 2007 | access-date =29 November 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123172352/http://www.sundayvision.co.ug/detail.php?mainNewsCategoryId=7&newsCategoryId=123&newsId=598876|archive-date=23 January 2013}}</ref> Also, the application for observer status was submitted by the unrecognized state of [[Somaliland]], whose territory is officially considered as part of Somalia. The United States ([[Thirteen Colonies]]), Israel ([[Mandate for Palestine]]), [[Republic of Ireland]] ([[Irish Free State]]), and the [[Arab states of the Persian Gulf|Persian Gulf states]], as former possessions of the British empireEmpire, are eligible for membership but have shown no interest.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theconversation.com/why-the-commonwealth-endures-despite-being-written-off-by-the-left-and-the-right-47142|title=Why the Commonwealth endures despite being written off by the left and the right|access-date=7 July 2021|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709204828/https://theconversation.com/why-the-commonwealth-endures-despite-being-written-off-by-the-left-and-the-right-47142|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
==See also==
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{{-}}
{{Commonwealth of Nations topics}}
{{Republicanism}}
 
[[Category:Republics in the Commonwealth of Nations| ]]
[[Category:Member states of the Commonwealth of Nations|*]]
[[Category:Republicanism in the Commonwealth realms|*]]
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