President Mohamed Muizzu has established a commission to investigate and take action regarding the Maldives' handling of the maritime boundary dispute involving the Chagos Archipelago, amid allegations that a portion of the country's territory was "sold off."
The President's Office stated that the commission was formed following recommendations from foreign experts appointed to review the case. These experts suggested that the loss of a significant portion of the Maldives' maritime area was a direct result of the previous administration's actions, necessitating a formal inquiry and accountability measures.
The members appointed to the commission by the President are:
- Ahmed Shakir (Kashima Shakir)
- Abdul Azeez Yoosuf
- Aminath Shafiya Adam
- Abdul Muhsin Mohamed
- Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rtd.) Mohamed Sadiq
- Ahmed Ali Manik
- Fathimath Minhath Izzath
The commission has been tasked with six responsibilities. These include investigating the process leading up to the submission of the case to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), examining the conduct of those who provided direct or indirect counsel, and determining whether there was any legal negligence by officials who held the authority and power to act in the matter.
Furthermore, the commission is mandated to identify specific instances of legal negligence, if any, and to investigate how all documentation related to the ITLOS case was maintained and archived.
The commission's mandate also includes determining the appropriate actions to be taken against those found responsible and proposing measures to ensure that such incidents do not recur in the future.
