News Desk
OTTAWA, Canada, and JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — In a pair of diplomatic ceremonies this week, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s administration reinforced its commitment to deepening international partnerships, with the presentation of credentials by its newly appointed non-resident High Commissioner to Canada and its Permanent Representative to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
In Ottawa, His Excellency Abdul Ghafoor Mohamed, the Maldives’ new non-resident High Commissioner to Canada, presented his Letter of Credence to Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Canada’s Governor General, during a formal ceremony at Rideau Hall on Tuesday. The event marked a significant step in strengthening the longstanding relationship between the two nations, rooted in shared values and mutual concerns about environmental sustainability.
Following the ceremony, High Commissioner Ghafoor conveyed warm greetings from President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and expressed optimism about expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation. “The Maldives is eager to deepen our friendship with Canada,” he said, highlighting potential collaboration in areas such as trade, education, and climate resilience.
Governor General Simon congratulated Ghafoor on his appointment and praised the Maldives’ leadership in international climate advocacy.
While in Ottawa, Ghafoor also met with senior officials from Global Affairs Canada to explore new avenues for collaboration. Discussions focused on expanding educational exchanges, fostering trade opportunities, and aligning efforts to combat climate change, a shared priority given Canada’s own environmental challenges and the Maldives’ existential threats from rising oceans.
Appointed by President Muizzu on March 4, 2025, Ghafoor brings a wealth of diplomatic experience to his role. In addition to his new position in Canada, he serves as the Maldives’ Ambassador to the United States, a dual posting that reflects the small nation’s strategic approach to maximizing its global presence.
Meanwhile, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Ambassador Ahmed Sareer, the Maldives’ new Permanent Representative to the OIC, presented his Letter of Credence to the organization’s Secretary General, Hissein Brahim Taha, in a ceremony at OIC headquarters on Tuesday. The event underscored the Maldives’ enduring commitment to the 57-member organization, which it joined in 1976, and its role in promoting unity among Muslim-majority nations.
During the ceremony, Sareer conveyed President Muizzu’s greetings and reaffirmed the Maldives’ dedication to the OIC’s core principles of peace, cooperation, and solidarity. He praised Taha’s leadership in rallying member states around shared priorities, particularly the Palestinian cause, which the Maldives has consistently supported. “The Maldives stands firm in its support for the Palestinian people and will continue to work with the OIC to advance their rights,” Sareer said.
Taha welcomed Sareer to his new role and expressed the OIC’s eagerness to strengthen ties with the Maldives. He highlighted the organization’s ongoing efforts to address challenges facing Muslim communities worldwide, from poverty alleviation to conflict resolution, and emphasized the importance of collective action.
The Maldives’ active participation in the OIC reflects its broader strategy of engaging with international organizations to amplify its voice on global issues, despite its small size.
The dual appointments come at a time when the Maldives is navigating complex geopolitical and environmental challenges. As a nation of just over 500,000 people spread across 26 atolls, it faces existential threats from climate change while seeking to expand its influence through diplomacy. The new postings in Canada and the OIC are part of President Muizzu’s broader vision to position the Maldives as a proactive player on the world stage, balancing partnerships with Western democracies and Islamic nations alike.
As experienced diplomats with foreign service backgrounds, High Commissioner Ghafoor and Ambassador Sareer hold appointments that are more than symbolic; they are vital to projecting the Maldives’ influence and ensuring its survival in an increasingly interconnected world.
