President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has established a seven-member presidential commission to investigate the decisions and actions taken by Maldivian authorities during the country’s maritime boundary dispute with Mauritius before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).
The commission, formed under Presidential Decree No. 2026/17, will examine the Maldives’ involvement in ITLOS Case No. 28, including the conduct of government officials, legal representatives and other individuals responsible for managing the proceedings. The decision follows concerns raised by the current administration that the handling of the case may have compromised the country’s maritime interests.
Established under Article 115(o) of the Constitution, the body has been formally designated the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate the Actions of the Maldives in ITLOS Case Number 28.
According to the President’s Office, the decision to establish the commission follows an assessment conducted by international experts tasked with reviewing the case and exploring possible legal remedies. The experts reportedly concluded that certain decisions made by Maldivian authorities during the proceedings contributed to substantial and irreversible losses affecting the country’s maritime entitlements, fishing areas, marine resources and seabed interests.
The commission will investigate these findings and assess whether negligence, misconduct or failures to fulfil official responsibilities influenced the outcome of the dispute.
Its mandate covers decisions taken before the case was brought before the tribunal, the legal arguments and responses presented during the proceedings, and subsequent actions relating to the maritime boundary dispute. The inquiry will also examine the involvement of state employees, legal advisers and other relevant authorities to determine whether their conduct complied with applicable legal and professional obligations.
In addition to reviewing the decisions made throughout the case, the commission will investigate how official documents and records connected to the proceedings were managed, stored and preserved.
The commission has also been tasked with identifying individuals who may bear responsibility for any wrongdoing established through its investigation and recommending appropriate accountability measures. It may further propose administrative and procedural improvements intended to strengthen the Maldives’ handling of future international legal disputes.
Ahmed Shakir has been appointed president of the commission. Its six other members are Abdul Azeez Yoosuf, Dr Aminath Shafiya Adam, Dr Abdul Muhsin Mohamed, retired Deputy Commissioner of Police Mohamed Sadiq, Ahmed Ali Maniku and Fathimath Minhath Izzath.
The commission will continue its work until the President formally determines that its assigned responsibilities have been fulfilled.
The maritime boundary dispute between the Maldives and Mauritius originated from competing claims over waters near the Chagos Archipelago, with proceedings initiated in 2019.
On April 28, 2023, a special chamber of ITLOS delivered its judgment delimiting the maritime boundary between the two countries within 200 nautical miles.
The disputed maritime area covered approximately 92,563 square kilometres. Under the tribunal’s decision, the Maldives received 47,232 square kilometres, while Mauritius was allocated 45,331 square kilometres.
The previous administration welcomed the ruling, describing it as a positive outcome for the Maldives because the country received a slightly larger portion of the overlapping claims.
However, the current administration has disputed that interpretation, arguing that decisions made during the proceedings weakened the Maldives’ legal position and resulted in the loss of significant maritime rights and resources.
During his Presidential Address on February 5, 2026, President Muizzu announced plans to investigate the handling of the dispute and determine whether those involved should face accountability.
He also announced the withdrawal of a letter sent to Mauritius by former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in August 2022 concerning the Maldives’ position on the Chagos Archipelago dispute.
The establishment of the commission marks the formal implementation of the President’s earlier announcement. Its findings are expected to inform decisions on potential accountability and measures aimed at protecting the Maldives’ maritime interests in future international proceedings.
