<span style="color: #222222;">The Maldives has once again become a member of the Commonwealth of nations. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih made the announcement today, fulfilling one of his key presidential pledges. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The president said that the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, confirmed Maldives' reinstatement into the organization as its 54th member state. The Maldives first became a member of the Commonwealth in 1982 but former President Abdulla Yameen decided to leave it in October 2016, amid mounting pressure from the group over corruption and deteriorating human rights.<br />'' <br />'' President Solih's cabinet passed to rejoin the organization, shortly after assuming office in November 2018. President said that the Maldives shall long strive to uphold the Commonwealth's values of democracy and human rights, adding that rejoining the organization is symbolic of the administration's commitment to engage with the international community and to deliver on domestic pledges to citizens in good faith. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The incumbent president also praised the Commonwealth, describing as an organization embodying the best of multilateral diplomacy, highlighting the significant opportunities granted through it, including the scholarship opportunities, sporting platforms and youth programs that the Maldives can once again avail itself of by virtue of its membership.<br />''<br />''With Maldives' reinstatement into the Commonwealth, the country's flag will be raised at Marlborough House, the Common Secretariat, on the 6th of this month.</span>