Nasheed’s Office Claims Denial of UN Pass to Represent Maldives; MFA Issues Contradictory Statement
Former President Mohamed Nasheed on June 23, 2025, at the Maldives Democratic Party’s meeting | Photo: MDP
The office of former President Mohamed Nasheed said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs opposed granting him an official pass to access the United Nations headquarters in New York to represent the Maldives, while the ministry stated it had not received an official request for the pass.
In a press release on 22 September, Nasheed’s office confirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had denied his request for the pass required to represent the Maldives at the UN Headquarters in New York, where he is currently seeking to attend international meetings.
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However, in a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today, they said Nasheed had not formally requested the pass to attend any of the UN’s sideline meetings at the ministry. The ministry assured that Nasheed is being treated with the respect and dignity befitting a former President of the nation.
Nasheed, now serving as Secretary-General of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), said the Maldivian government’s objection does not prevent him from accessing the UN Headquarters in an official capacity or participating in the annual general meeting. He attended a High-Level Solutions Dialogue on Accelerating Adaptation, Implementation and Investment, at the UN yesterday, as the Secretary-General of CVF. However, he did not have the Maldives’ flag to represent him.
In his statement, he emphasised that, having previously served as president, speaker of parliament, and MP for Central Machangoalhi and Malé on different occasions, he wishes to represent the Maldives while flying the nation’s flag. The statement said this is a common practice for individuals who have held the country’s highest offices.
