Government Appoints International Counsel to Reclaim Contested Southern Sovereign Waters

The Maldivian government is launching a legal offensive to reclaim contested maritime territory in the south, appointing international legal experts to challenge a previous ruling that resulted in the loss of sovereign waters. Attorney General Ahmed Usham announced the strategy on Wednesday at the President's Office, marking a significant step toward fulfilling a key campaign promise of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. The decision follows a comprehensive review by the Attorney General’s Office. An investigative team presented its findings to the cabinet, which subsequently resolved to escalate the dispute before international judicial bodies. According to Usham, the government is currently in the process of formally delegating the case to specialized international lawyers and subject matter experts. “Even as I speak, that work is actively progressing,” Usham stated, adding that the administration expects to share more comprehensive details regarding the trajectory of the legal undertaking within the next two weeks. The dispute originated from arbitration initiated by Mauritius. President Muizzu has previously asserted that the Maldives held strong appellate opportunities had the proceedings concluded unfavourably. However, he alleges that the previous administration mismanaged the case by preemptively transferring it to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea before Mauritius had requested such a move, a tactical error that precipitated a detrimental ruling. This forfeiture has not only cost the Maldives sovereign maritime territory but has also resulted in a financial loss of USD 2.40 million. While government officials concede that overturning the existing decision will be a difficult legal challenge, the administration remains committed to the effort. As part of the corrective measures, the government withdrew an "unlawful" letter sent to Mauritius last February. Furthermore, the administration has vowed to pursue punitive measures against those responsible for the mismanagement that led to the loss of sovereign territory.