AG: Findings on 'lost' maritime territory to be submitted to cabinet this month

Attorney General (AG) Ahmed Usham states he is hopeful that the findings on the case involving alleged loss of part of Maldives’ maritime territory will be submitted to the cabinet within this month.

At Wednesday’s parliamentary sitting, North Hulhumale’ MP Hussain Shareef, citing Maldivians believe part of Maldives’ maritime territory has been sold, asked the Attorney General for an update on the case.

In response, Usham expressed his belief that Maldives lost part of its maritime territory due to some decisions taken by the last MDP administration. He detailed that the government was exploring ways to proceed with the case by hiring foreign experts. However, he noted that the work is not fully complete at present.

“I am estimating, I am extremely hopeful that we can submit out findings to the cabinet within this month,” he added.

Usham further said the government’s stance in the case will be announced once the cabinet reaches a decision. He shortened his response, citing that lawmakers’ questions will be answered once the review of the case is completed.

Usham’s remarks come following remarks by Foreign Minister Dr. Abdulla Kahaleel on August 13, claiming Maldives would have clearly had the upper hand in the maritime dispute with Mauritius if former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had not sent the letter to Mauritian prime minister Pravind Jugnauth.

Meanwhile, on May 3rd, President Muizzu stated that his administration would not show any leniency in efforts to reclaim the Maldives’ lost maritime territory.

PPM-PNC coalition, which had been the opposition back then, had accused the former administration of “selling” part of Maldivian maritime territory with International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) decision on April 28^th, 2023, on the division of the conflicting exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) between Mauritius and Maldives.

The current administration believes that the former administration’s policies on the matter were contradictory to the laws and the constitution of the Maldives and lacked consideration for the highest national interest.

In this regard, the administration has established a three-member committee headed by former attorney general Mohamed Anil to review ITLOS’ decision.

Britain had announced the decision to give up Chagos Islands while retaining control over Diego Garcia - a highly secretive strategic airbase in the Indian Ocean it jointly operates with the United States – on October 3.

The Chagos Islands is at the core of a long-running territorial dispute between not just the UK and Mauritius, but also the Maldives.

Maldives became involved in the dispute as the country's exclusive economic zone overlaps with that of Chagos.