President Mohamed Muizzu has established a special commission of inquiry to investigate the Maldives' handling of its maritime boundary dispute with Mauritius concerning the Chagos Archipelago.
The commission is tasked with reviewing the previous administration's approach during proceedings at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). Officials say the inquiry aims to identify any legal or procedural shortcomings that resulted in significant reductions to the country's exclusive economic zone in southern waters.
The dispute dates back to the 2023 ITLOS ruling that demarcated overlapping claims between the Maldives and the Chagos area, which Mauritius asserts sovereignty over. The decision allocated roughly 47,000 square kilometres to the Maldives and a similar portion to Mauritius from a disputed zone of about 92,000 square kilometres. Critics, including the current government, have argued that earlier decisions failed to adequately protect national interests.
Muizzu has previously described the outcome as a major setback for Maldivian sovereignty and pledged to pursue recovery of the territory through available international legal channels. The new commission is expected to gather evidence, consult experts, and recommend measures to prevent similar issues in future boundary matters.
Details on the commission's membership and timeline have not yet been fully disclosed. The move comes amid ongoing diplomatic discussions involving the United Kingdom and Mauritius over the future of the Chagos Archipelago, including the status of the Diego Garcia military base.
Observers note that any findings could influence the Maldives' strategy in related international forums. The government has stressed that the process will remain independent and focused on factual assessment of past actions.
