Saleem awarded highest honour of Maldives foreign service

Ahmed Saleem (Nanreethi Saleem), has been conferred the highest honour of the Maldives Foreign Service in recognition of nearly six decades of public service.

The veteran diplomat, who retires this year after 57 years of service to the state including more than 35 years in foreign affairs was honored during the official ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of Maldives independence.

Saleem is the first person in the country’s foreign affairs to receive the new title, introduced by the government as part of the Independence Day celebrations. The honour is reserved for individuals with more than 30 years of service in the foreign ministry and who are still in active service at the time of retirement.

Saleem began his career on 7 July 1967 as a steno-typist in the United Nations section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Over the decades, he went on to hold key diplomatic roles, including Ambassador to Pakistan, Non-Resident Ambassador to Nepal, and the first Maldivian Director to SAARC. He later became Secretary-General of the regional organization.

Beyond foreign service, Saleem held numerous senior government posts. These include Director-General roles in the ministries of Youth, Women’s Affairs, and Transport; Controller of Immigration and Emigration, Deputy Director of the Department of Information and Broadcasting and Director of Sport under the former Ministry of Home Affairs and Sports.

Saleem was also a founding member of the Maldives' first Human Rights Commission established in 2003, later becoming the first president of the commission under the current Constitution.

The President’s Office said the title reflects an exceptional career devoted to the state and diplomacy, and sets a precedent for recognizing distinguished service in the Maldivian foreign service.