News Desk
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has established a presidential commission of inquiry to investigate the actions of former MDP government officials during the international maritime boundary dispute with Mauritius, the President’s Office announced on Sunday.
The panel, formally designated as the “Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate the Actions of the Maldives in ITLOS Case Number 28,” was created by Presidential Decree No. 2026/17 under powers granted to the president by Article 115(o) of the Maldivian Constitution.
The move fulfils a commitment President Muizzu made during his Presidential Address on 5 February.
The inquiry stems from the outcome of the dispute before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in Hamburg, which determined the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) boundary between the Maldives and the Chagos Archipelago. Independent international experts appointed by the current administration concluded that decisions made by previous authorities led to the loss of a vast area of ocean territory, inflicting long-term harm on the country’s fisheries, marine wealth, and seabed rights.
The seven-member commission will be chaired by Uz Ahmed Shakir. Its members include:
Uz Ahmed Shakir (ODRDD) — President of the Commission
Mr Abdul Azeez Yoosuf
Dr Aminath Shafiya Adam
Dr Abdul Muhsin Mohamed
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Retd.) Mohamed Sadiq
Mr Ahmed Ali Maniku
Uza Fathimath Minhath Izzath
Under the executive decree, the panel has been granted extensive powers to examine the decision-making process leading up to and during the ITLOS proceedings. Its core mandate includes:
- Investigating the conduct of state employees, advisors, legal personnel, and government officials involved directly or indirectly in the proceedings and response to Case Number 28.
- Determining whether legal negligence occurred on the part of state actors and establishing the scope of any such failures.
- Examining how case files, records, and related documentation were maintained, stored, and preserved.
- Recommending legal or administrative action against individuals deemed responsible for misconduct or negligence.
- Proposing systemic safeguards to prevent similar lapses in national representation in future legal disputes.
The presidential commission will remain operational until President Muizzu formally declares its mandate complete and receives its final investigative report.
