Royal news: How many Commonwealth nations once belonged to the British empire?
THE Commonwealth is one of the most expansive international networks in the world and has kept a vast number of countries interlocked in an effort of cooperation. While the Commonwealth sprang from the ashes of the British Empire, not every member is a former colony.
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The Commonwealth has become a force for good since its establishment out of the British Empire in the mid 20th century. The network involves countries in the vital processes of development, democracy and peace. The alliance joins a total of 54 countries, many of which have spent the entire time under its umbrella, and others who joined recently.
How many Commonwealth nations once belonged to the British Empire?
The Commonwealth, otherwise known as the Commonwealth of Nations, started as a collection of "dominions".
Dominions were those members of the British Empire which had attained some degree of autonomy and included countries such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
They participated in the annual Imperial Conference starting in 1887, and in 1926 agreed they would owe their allegiance to the British King or Queen while stepping out from United Kingdom rule.
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The 1929 conference marked the first stage of the modern Commonwealth, which changed form once again nearly 20 years later in 1947 when India gained independence.
The country wanted to shed its British allegiance but stay within the protective influence of the Commonwealth.
By 1949, a Commonwealth Prime Ministers meeting declared other countries and republics could join the ranks of the organisation.
The modern-day network boasts 54 members, three of whom have no ties to the British Empire.
The African nations of Mozambique and Rwanda became members in 2009 and 1995 respectively.
Neither had a British colonial past or even a constitutional link to tie them with the others.
Not every member of the Commonwealth has stuck with the organisation once joining, however, as several have left before.
Both the Republic of Ireland and Zimbabwe have permanently left, the former in 1949 and the latter in 2003.
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Ireland's departure is owing to its embrace of republicanism, while Zimbabwe withdrew at the behest of former president Robert Mugabe.
His successor Emmerson Mnangagwa applied to rejoin following his election in 2018.
Several other countries, including Somaliland, Burundi, Suriname and South Sudan have also applied to the organisation.
Some nations have withdrawn temporarily in the past, either willingly or via suspension.
South Africa removed itself in the wake of Apartheid criticism in 1961 and found its way back in 1994.
Pakistan was forcefully suspended following a military coup in 1999 and returned in 2003.
The Gambia left in 2013 and was welcomed back two years ago after reapplying in 2017.
The Maldives is the most recent member, having rejoined in February this year, four years after it withdrew its membership in 2016.