Maldives faces risk of state capture, says Transparency

Transparency International has warned that Maldives faces a risk of state capture as powers are increasingly concentrated within the ruling authority, while systemic weaknesses continue to enable corruption and limit public access to justice and services.

In its latest assessment Tuesday, Transparency International said changes to laws and institutions have reduced oversight and weakened checks and balances, affecting public trust and the functioning of state bodies.

Based on data from three international sources, Maldives scored 39 points in last year’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), ranking 91st out of 182 countries. Transparency International noted that the country’s CPI score has remained between 38 and 43 over the past five years.

“Maldives’s CPI results remain worryingly low,” the organisation said in a statement, adding that these results point to systemic vulnerabilities that facilitate corruption, weaken institutions and create barriers for citizens seeking justice and public services.

Transparency International identified several areas of concern, including the concentration of powers within the executive branch. Recent constitutional and legislative changes have increased executive authority, raising the risk of state capture. Amendments passed in November 2024 weakened oversight mechanisms and reduced opportunities for public participation in decision-making.

The organisation also highlighted amendments to the Courts Act and changes within the judiciary, including the suspension of Supreme Court judges, which it said have affected judicial independence and created scope for political influence. Changes to laws on decentralisation have transferred decision-making powers from local councils to central agencies, reducing community participation and oversight at the local level.

Further concerns were raised over amendments to the Anti-Corruption Commission Act and the Elections Commission Act, which grant the President authority to appoint senior officials of both commissions. Transparency International said this could limit the independence of these institutions and reduce transparency.

Restrictions on civil society and media freedom were also noted. The passage of the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Act has increased controls on the media sector, with three members of the regulatory commission appointed directly by the President. The organisation said this structure allows political influence over the media watchdog. It also cited the vote on the composition of the Addu City Council as an example of limited public consultation on key decisions.

In relation to environmental and economic oversight, Transparency International warned that governance weaknesses could affect environmental management and economic performance. Concerns include changes to the Environmental Protection Agency’s structure, amendments to environmental impact assessment regulations allowing certain projects to proceed without assessments, and weaknesses in the management of state-owned enterprises and development projects. It said limited oversight, along with a lack of transparency in procurement and recruitment, increases the risk of misuse of public resources.

The organisation further noted ongoing challenges in enforcing anti-corruption measures and ensuring accountability. It said politically influenced decisions allow officials to act without effective deterrence, while limited enforcement of legal protections discourages individuals from reporting corruption.

Transparency International proposed several measures to address these issues, including ensuring political neutrality in appointments, safeguarding the independence of state institutions, upholding constitutional principles of decentralisation, protecting media freedom and access to information, preventing misuse of public resources, addressing impunity for crimes, and strengthening transparency and accountability in government-owned companies.