The Democrats Voice Concerns Over Chagos Archipelago Claims

The Democrats have expressed concerns over what it perceives as inaction by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s administration in asserting Maldivian sovereignty over the Chagos archipelago, an issue the Muizzu had pledged to address.

In a statement yesterday, The Democrats highlighted that the Maldives’ longstanding stance on the Chagos archipelago shifted during former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration. This policy shift involved the Maldives relinquishing its right to claim sovereignty over the archipelago and supporting Mauritius’ claim to the islands.

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ސަރުކާރުގެ ވައުދާ އެއްގޮތަށް ޗާގޯސްގެ މައްސަލާގައި އަމަލުކުރައްވާފައިނުވާތީ ކަންބޮޑުވުންފާޅުކުރުމުގެ ގޮތުން ނެރޭ ނޫސްބަޔާން. pic.twitter.com/CzeuiLcpY2— The Democrats (@TheDemocratsMV) October 5, 2024

The party’s statement follows the recent announcement by the United Kingdom of its decision to transfer administrative control of the Chagos archipelago to Mauritius. The Democrats described this as a potential loss of sovereign territory for the Maldives, citing either an active decision or passive inaction on the Maldives’ part.

The Democrats previously condemned the former administration’s decision to support Mauritius’ claim and continue to reject this approach. They have now raised concerns that Muizzu’s administration has not taken adequate steps to reclaim what they consider a loss of Maldivian sovereign rights over the archipelago.

Historical records, including a letter from Maldivian King Hassan dating back to 1560, have identified seven of the Chagos islands as part of Maldivian territory. However, in 1965, the United Kingdom assumed control over the Chagos archipelago, which was then part of British-controlled Mauritius. Subsequently, Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands, was leased to the United States for military use until 2036.

In 2019, Mauritius filed a formal claim at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to reclaim the islands, a case that ultimately concluded in Mauritius’ favour, with the ICJ ordering the UK to transfer control. The United Nations has repeatedly called for the UK to comply with this ruling and transfer administrative authority to Mauritius.

Following the ICJ decision, a boundary dispute between the Maldives and Mauritius regarding the surrounding maritime area was brought before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), which upheld the ICJ ruling. The disputed area, covering 95,000 square kilometres, was subsequently divided between the Maldives and Mauritius.