Former President and MDP Chairperson Mohamed Nasheed has alleged that the German government closed its consulate office in the Maldives due to attempts by the Maldivian government to exert undue influence.
Expressing his concerns on X, Nasheed stated that Germany's decision to shut down its consulate is deeply worrying. He characterised the move as another consequence of the current administration's flawed foreign policies.
Nasheed further alleged that the government attempted to pressure Germany into appointing a specific individual of their choosing to the post of Honorary Consul. He noted that the German government had expressed concern over this interference.
In a statement regarding the matter, the German Embassy in Sri Lanka confirmed that the Office of the Honorary Consul in the Maldives has been closed until further notice. The embassy did not provide any additional details regarding the closure.
The German government established its consulate office in the Maldives in 2019. Since its inception, Sanjay Ibrahim Manik of the Universal family has served as the Honorary Consul of Germany.
As Germany is the only European nation currently operating a visa application centre in the Maldives, there are concerns that this closure may disrupt visa services. However, the official status of the centre remains unclear, as neither government has issued a formal statement on the matter.
