Maldives Insight

MALÉ, Maldives – President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has reiterated the Maldives’ assertion of its primary historical right to the Chagos Archipelago, an island group situated south of the country in the Indian Ocean. The President’s remarks were made during an interview with the UK’s Daily Express newspaper.

President Muizzu emphasised that historical evidence unequivocally demonstrates the longstanding ties between the Maldives and Chagos. He cited the discovery of tombstones bearing Dhivehi script within the archipelago, alongside historical records detailing the connections between the former inhabitants of Chagos and the Maldives. Based on this evidence, he stated his conviction that Chagos rightfully belongs to the Maldives over any other nation.

The President also confirmed that the Maldives’ perspective and concerns regarding the Chagos issue have been formally communicated to the British Government.

Chagos Archipelago: Background and Recent Developments

The United Kingdom separated the Chagos islands from Mauritius in 1965 to facilitate the establishment of a military base, which was subsequently leased to the United States. Although the UK has now announced its decision to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius, the precise details of this agreement have not been officially disclosed.

It is widely anticipated that the American military facility on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the archipelago, will continue its operations there, even following the impending transfer of sovereignty to Mauritius.

Prior Stance and Local Controversy

The Chagos issue previously sparked significant debate within the Maldives during the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. His government formally recognised Mauritian sovereignty over Chagos, a stance that drew criticism from then-opposition parties and former Attorneys General.

Critics asserted that a letter sent by President Solih to the Mauritian Prime Minister played a crucial role in what they claimed was the loss of an estimated 44,000 square kilometres from the Maldives’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This loss was attributed to a decision by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). The contents of President Solih’s letter have not yet been made public.