President’s Letter to Mauritius Reveals Shift in Maldives’ Chagos Stance

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s letter to the Prime Minister of Mauritius has been leaked, showing a reassessment of the Maldivian government’s stance on the Chagos issue.

Spokesperson for President’s Office, Miuvaan Mohamed, said while confirming the authenticity of the leaked letter, stated that an investigation is currently underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the leak.

advertisement

advertisement

advertisement

In the letter, President Solih stated that Maldives would vote in favor of Mauritius in the upcoming United Nations vote on Chagos’ sovereignty.

This move marks a departure from previous statements made by the President, in which he had not supported Mauritius due to their rejection of Maldives’ submission to the International Commission for determining the continental shelf.

However, the leaked letter clarifies that Maldives now supports Mauritius’ sovereignty over the Chagos archipelago without altering their stance on the continental shelf dispute or the ongoing case at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), as emphasised by the President.

Addressing concerns regarding the South Sea and its implications on the ITLOS decision, the Bar Council’s relevant committee has already stated that President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s letter contains no reference to the South Sea or any factors that would impact the ITLOS verdict.

Under the framework of the Legal Profession Act, the Maldives has undertaken a study of the maritime territorial dispute involving Maldives and Mauritius.