Maldives' situation will eventually reach a point where a presidential commission must be established to investigate Muizzu: Nishan.
Legal expert Mohamed Nishan Ibrahim has criticized President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s claims regarding the loss of Maldivian maritime territory, labeling them as factually incorrect. Highlighting that the international court's ruling on the Chagos dispute actually secured a larger portion of the territory for the Maldives, Nishan warned of dangerous consequences if the government operates outside legal boundaries. He further cautioned that establishing presidential commissions to investigate the matter for political gain would ultimately lead to bitter results.
Renowned lawyer Mohamed Nishan Ibrahim | MDP | MDP
Legal expert Mohamed Nishan Ibrahim has stated that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s actions will eventually lead the country to a point where a presidential commission will be established to investigate his conduct.
Speaking at an MDP rally held on Thursday, Nishan stated that Muizzu’s primary campaign narrative to ascend to power centered on the alleged loss of a portion of the Maldives' maritime territory. Nishan further noted that the President continues to propagate these claims even today.
Nishan stated that the 2026 Presidential Address revealed the current administration is drafting a formal letter to rescind the previous correspondence sent by former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to the Prime Minister of Mauritius regarding the Chagos Archipelago issue.
However, Nishan questioned whether the current administration was truly unaware of the facts surrounding the matter and shared further details regarding the situation.
The issue at hand pertains to the legal efforts undertaken by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration to protect the sovereign territory of the Maldives. Legally speaking, the area in question—which President Muizzu refers to—was already established as part of Mauritius. The Maldives initially became involved in a dispute between Mauritius and the United Kingdom, a matter it arguably did not need to enter, with the objective of securing a larger portion of the maritime territory for the country.Attorney Mohamed Nishan Ibrahim
Nishan stated that under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Maldives is classified as an archipelagic state. Consequently, the country's sovereign territory is defined by extending a specific number of nautical miles seaward from the outermost low-water marks of the islands.
Nishan stated that the Maldives' sovereign territory overlaps with the maritime boundaries of three other nations. He identified these neighboring countries as Sri Lanka, India, and Mauritius. Nishan further explained that under international maritime law, such overlapping claims must be resolved by dividing the disputed waters equally between the concerned states.
However, the Maldives secured a larger portion of the disputed territory than Mauritius. The Maldives successfully obtained a significant share. Despite this, President Muizzu is currently working to establish a presidential commission based on the claim that the maritime territory was "sold off." There is no issue with President Muizzu forming a commission and investigating the matter to whatever extent he desires. Let him proceed. Nevertheless, the consequences of these actions and the outcomes of any measures taken by Muizzu outside the legal framework will be investigated. The situation in this country will eventually reach a point where a presidential commission is established to investigate Muizzu himself in the future.Attorney Mohamed Nishan Ibrahim
The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) reached its decision following a case filed by Mauritius in 2022. In response to the petition by Mauritius to delimit the overlapping maritime boundaries, ITLOS partitioned the disputed area, awarding the Maldives a total of 47,232 square kilometers and Mauritius 45,331 square kilometers.
