HTS group, currently governing Syria, removed from Maldives' list of terrorist organizations
Following the advice of the National Security Council, the Maldives has updated its list of proscribed terrorist organizations to reflect recent developments in Syria, mirroring a similar move by the United States to delist the group. With the removal of this organization, which played a key role in the ousting of the former Syrian government, the Maldives has also lifted the designation of Syria as a prohibited war zone for Maldivian travelers.
Syria's HTS removed from Maldives' list of terrorist organizations | RaajjeMV | Raajje MV
The Maldivian government has revised its list of designated terrorist organizations, notably removing Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)—the group currently governing Syria—from the list and lifting the long-standing travel ban for Maldivians traveling to the country.
Under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, the President is mandated to designate the list of terrorist organizations and identify conflict zones prohibited for Maldivian travelers. Furthermore, this list must be reviewed annually in consultation with the National Security Council.
Last Thursday, the President designated and gazetted an updated list of terrorist organizations and conflict zones where Maldivian citizens are prohibited from traveling. This marks a revision to the list, which had remained unchanged for several years.
Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the group that seized power in December 2024 following the sudden collapse of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, has been officially designated as a terrorist organization by the Maldives since October 2019. Even in the most recent update to the national terrorism list released in December 2024, HTS remains among the 20 groups proscribed by the Maldivian government. Led by Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the group formerly operated as Jabhat al-Nusra and maintained close ties to Al-Qaeda. However, it has since evolved to become a primary challenger to the Syrian government and a central player in the country's shifting political landscape.
The removal of HTS from the Maldives' list of terrorist organizations follows a similar move by the United States, which delisted the group last year.
