Constitution amended: Changing Maldives' EEZ will need referendum

The Maldivian Parliament yesterday passed a constitutional amendment requiring a referendum to change the Maldives' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Article three of the Constitution currently defines Maldives territory as the land, airspace, sea and seabed within the archipelagic baselines of the Maldives drawn in accordance with the law, and includes territorial waters, the seabed and airspace thereof beyond the said baselines. It also requires any changes to this territory to be made pursuant to a law enacted by at least a two third majority of the total membership of the Parliament.

However, on behalf of the government, Hulhudhoo MP Mohamed Shahid submitted to add a clause to the Article, which was passed by a 78 member majority. 13 members voted against the amendment.

The amendment states that any changes to the inner sea, archipelagic sea, territorial seas and seas connected to that sea and the entire EEZ of Maldives can only be changed with a law passed with three-fourth majority of the Parliament.

It further requires any such decisions to be finalised after a referendum.

This follows a complaint filed earlier by Mauritius with the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), seeking a ruling to affirm its sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, located south of the Maldives, and to define the maritime boundaries between Chagos and Maldives.

ITLOS ruled that the United Kingdom does not have jurisdiction over the Chagos Islands. Consequently, the maritime area was redefined as proposed by Mauritius, leading to a loss of part of Maldives' former EEZ.

Acquiring the area has been a key presidential promise of the current government. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has since written to the United Kingdom, asserting that Maldives has a more rightful claim over the Chagos region.