Maldives becomes IORA member

Maldives has become the latest member of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

While Maldives decided to participate in IORA in May 2017, it was finalized at the 18th meeting of the council of ministers in Durban, South Africa on November 2.

While the country’s application had been considered in July this year, nations such as Mauritius noted “there had been no communication from Malé for support to any member” since applying for membership.

While neighboring India had also refrained from speaking in support of Maldives then and had instead asked for postponement on the membership application, India’s “The Wire” reports that it later helped “to convince naysayers that the new government in Malé should be given a chance”.

Citing a diplomatic source, The Wire said that “it was pointed out to them that they should take into account that there is a new government in Maldives which should be given a chance” and that the archipelago’s newly-elected president “should certainly not be seen through the same lens as his predecessor”.

Maldives’ newly elected president will be sworn in on the 17th of this month.

The council had approved Myanmar for membership in July, but failed to gain the necessary support at the last minute.

The Wire reported that “at the last minute, South Africa blocked Myanmar,” due to pressure from groups working on the Rohingya issue.

While sitting President Abdulla Yameen’s government has been subject to scrutiny over the deteriorating human rights conditions in the country, this is the first time that Maldives joined a new international association in recent years.