Parliament Allocates MVR 10 Million in Budget for Legal Action on Mauritius Dispute

The parliamentary budget committee has approved the allocation of MVR 10 Million in the proposed state budget for 2024 to facilitate legal proceedings concerning the maritime boundary dispute with Mauritius.

The committee decided to augment the budget of the attorney general by MVR 10 Million specifically for addressing legal aspects of the ongoing dispute between Maldives and Mauritius.

advertisement

The allocation comes in the aftermath of the April ruling by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), which determined that the Maldives should hold a majority share of the contested territory between its maritime boundary and the Chagos Archipelago. 

This decision, which concluded a 58-year-old dispute, safeguarded the southern part of Maldives’ territory. The ruling, notably in favour of the then-government of the Maldives, faced opposition claims asserting that the administration had agreed to cede Maldivian territory to Mauritius.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, who made appealing the ITLOS decision a central part of his campaign promises, has reiterated this commitment. Key elements of his campaign included the withdrawal of foreign military personnel from the Maldives and the recovery of any lost ocean territory. 

Consequently, the new administration’s roadmap for its initial 100 days in office prioritises the appeal of the ITLOS decision.