Kigali summit tests Commonwealth's clout as awkward issues loom

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson shakes hands with Rwandan President Paul Kagame during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) at the office of the President in Kigali, Rwanda June 23, 2022. Dan Kitwood/Pool via REUTERS

Commonwealth leaders gather in Rwanda this week to discuss issues ranging from trade to health to climate change, a summit that will test the organisation's mettle at a time when its relevance is being questioned.

The Commonwealth, a club of 54 countries that evolved from the British Empire, encompasses about a third of humanity, with members ranging from India to tiny Nauru.