The Prime Minister of Samoa, Hon. Fiame Naomi Mataafa was in London this week to attend the
Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting as well as the events celebrating the Commonwealth
Day on Mach 13 with the theme ‘Forging a sustainable and peaceful common future’.
Some of the events included the Flag raising ceremony hosted by the Speaker of Parliament, Royal
Commonwealth Society Service at the Westminster Abbey and the Commonwealth Day reception at
Buckingham Palace hosted by His Majesty King Charles III and the Queen Consort.
The Commonwealth family also celebrated the tenth anniversary of the signing of the Commonwealth
Charter which was signed by Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 11 March 2013, and now re-signed
by His Majesty King Charles III. This milestone in the journey of the Commonwealth was marked by
the raising of the Flag for Peace where Prime Minister Mataafa as the incoming chair of the
Commonwealth, delivered remarks; ”..as we raise the flag of peace, we raise hope for our
commonwealth family, for our youth, civil society, small and vulnerable states and we raise hope for a
more resilient, sustainable and peaceful common future, ” The Commonwealth Flag of Peace represents
shared values and principles of the Commonwealth, including co-operation on economic and social
development, diversity, respect, friendship and the promotion of peace around the world.
While in London, Honourable Mataafa also held meetings with His Majesty King Charles III at
Buckingham Palace; and the Rt Hon. James Cleverly – UK Foreign Secretary to discuss issues of mutual
concern and areas to strengthen bilateral relations. She also met with Commonwealth Secretary General
and Deputy Chairman, Lord Swire of the Commonwealth Enterprise & Investment Council. The
discussions throughout the week were critical to the preparations for the hosting of the next
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa in 2024.
Earlier in the week the Prime Minister was elected the Chair of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action
Group (CMAG) before she proceeded to Chair its 62 nd Meeting. CMAG is made up of a rotating group
of foreign ministers from eight countries, drawn from different regions, plus the foreign minister of the
Commonwealth Chairperson-in-Office. The current CMAG members are Barbados, Belize, Canada,
Ghana, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Rwanda (Chair-in-office for the Commonwealth) & Samoa.
Ministers in their deliberations recognised that the fundamental values and principles in the Charter are
the pre-requisites for achieving and sustaining peace, and that without peace the full potential of the
Charter cannot be achieved.
Prime Minister Mataafa was also the key guest speaker at the third session of the Commonwealth
Secretariat’s Marlborough House Dialogues held 14 March 2023 on the theme “Women’s Leadership in
the Commonwealth” where she shared her journey, the challenges and opportunities in becoming a

young female holder of the paramount chiefly title Fiame, the first female Cabinet minister, Deputy
Prime Minister and now Prime Minister of Samoa.
The Prime Minister also took the opportunity during the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers
Meeting to brief Ministers on Samoa’s preparations so far, and its approach for CHOGM in Samoa, now
earmarked for October 2024. As well Samoa’s delegation used the opportunity to discuss with some of
its partners potential areas of assistance for hosting CHOGM24.
The week long meetings in London ended with the Prime Minister speaking at the Panel Discussion
organized by the Australian High Commission to focus on ‘Ambitious Net Zero Targets with Credible
Action: Supporting Small Island States.’ This was an important opportunity to continue to push for more
ambitious climate action and to consistently accentuate what more needs to be done to address the
climate crisis.
Several events of the Commonwealth Day celebrations saw the participation of Samoans such as Mr
James Faiumu, a Chevening Scholarship Student from Samoa who was selected to be the Samoa flag-
bearer for the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey. The Samoa Honorary Consul, Mr
Lauaki Fereti Tuilagi led a small group of Samoans to sing at Buckingham Palace during the reception
hosted by His Majesty KING CHARLES III; while another group performed a Samoan Siva at the
Commonwealth Marlborough House Dialogue in celebration of women in leadership. Ms Brianna
Fruean, a former Commonwealth awardee and youth environmental advocate also spoke during the
Commonwealth day service on 13 March 2023.
The Honourable Prime Minister was accompanied by Mrs Peseta Noumea Simi, CEO Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade, H.E Francella Strickland, High Commissioner of Samoa to the United
Kingdom, Ms Fiona Lene-Samoa and Ms Raenynn Manuleleua of the Samoa High Commission in
Brussels; and Mr Vani Vai, ADC.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade