News Desk
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has established the Office of the Maritime Regions of the Maldives within the President’s Office, creating a new agency responsible for defining the country’s territorial boundaries and managing all matters linked to its sovereign limits.
The decision was first announced in the President’s Address to the People’s Majlis on 5 February. In that address, the President said:
“The Government will submit to this Majlis the necessary amendments to the Maritime Zones Act to bring it into alignment with the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution. In addition, experts have been instructed to establish a permanent office responsible for defining maritime boundaries, determining coordinates and baselines, and managing all matters related to national borders. It has therefore become necessary to establish a dedicated government agency for this purpose. God willing, I will establish the Office of the Maritime Regions of the Maldives. Moreover, as the international experts have advised that certain decisions taken by the previous administration may have caused irreparable harm to the Maldivian State, it is essential to determine the reasons behind those decisions. Therefore, I have decided to establish a Commission of Inquiry, under Article 115(c) of the Constitution, to investigate this matter thoroughly.”
According to the President’s Office, the newly formed agency will coordinate national efforts to clarify the extent of Maldives territories, work with state institutions, and engage international partners on technical and legal issues related to maritime and territorial boundaries. The office will also maintain authoritative baselines, coordinates and boundary maps.
The move comes at a time when questions of sovereignty and maritime jurisdiction have gained renewed attention. Recent commentary in Maldivian media, including an editorial published by Etruth.mv, highlighted concerns about how external actors have approached regional boundary issues. The editorial argued that disputes in the wider region, including actions by Mauritius, underline the need for the Maldives to strengthen its technical and diplomatic capacity when dealing with sensitive territorial matters. It noted that the Maldives must be prepared to safeguard its interests through clear institutional structures and sustained boundary management.
Preparations are now under way to operationalise the Office of the Maritime Regions of the Maldives. Administrative arrangements have begun, and recruitment of staff required to start its work is in progress.
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