MDP accuses govt of not claiming Chagos islands
In 2023, ITLOS issued a ruling on the maritime boundary dispute between the Maldives and Mauritius.
The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has alleged that the current government has decided not to pursue a claim over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia. The claim was made in a statement released after an online meeting held Thursday with the European Parliament’s delegation to South Asia.
The virtual meeting was attended by MDP President Abdulla Shahid, former Environment Minister Aminath Shauna, and Galolhu South MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem. Shauna and Naseem are members of the party’s Foreign Relations Committee. The Maldives' Ambassador to the European Union, Geela Ali, attended the meeting on behalf of the government.
According to the MDP, Ambassador Geela Ali stated during the meeting that the government would not claim Diego Garcia. The MDP said the current ruling coalition—comprising the People’s National Congress (PNC) and Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM)—previously advocated that the Chagos islands belonged to the Maldives when they were in opposition.
The MDP criticised what it called a lack of transparency in the government’s foreign policy, especially on matters concerning national sovereignty. The party said the handling of the Chagos issue was an example of how foreign relations were being managed to serve political objectives.
The MDP also raised several other concerns with the European delegation, including:
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The removal of two Supreme Court judges while a politically significant case was pending
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Alleged misuse of constitutional amendments and parliamentary procedures to silence opposition
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The shutdown of the anti-corruption whistleblower portal
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Intimidation of journalists and broadcasters
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Lack of financial transparency and a clear strategy to manage upcoming debt obligations
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Concerns over changes to the electoral system ahead of the 2028 presidential election
The party pointed to President Mohamed Muizzu’s previous correspondence with the United Kingdom, in which he reaffirmed the Maldives’ claim to sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia. Recovering the territory was also a pledge made during the presidential campaign.
In April 2023, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) issued a ruling on the maritime boundary dispute between the Maldives and Mauritius. ITLOS awarded 47,232 square kilometres to the Maldives and 45,331 square kilometres to Mauritius.
At the time, the then-opposition PPM-PNC coalition criticised the decision, arguing that the Maldives had lost control over a significant portion of its southern exclusive economic zone. The current administration began work to revisit the ruling within its first 100 days in office, forming a special committee and seeking international legal expertise.
However, no formal proposal has yet been submitted to request a review of the ITLOS decision.
