Former President Mohamed Nasheed stated last night that even though Mauritius has suspended diplomatic relations at a time when the Maldives has intensified its efforts to claim Chagos, the Maldives should not back down.
In a message sent to a WhatsApp group of Maldivian tourism industry professionals, Nasheed said that the Maldives needs to talk with Mauritius regarding the Chagos issue.
"However, Maldives should not back down," Nasheed wrote in the short message.
Following the disputes that have arisen regarding the islands of Chagos, the government of Mauritius decided yesterday to suspend diplomatic relations with the Maldives. Following that decision, Nasheed said in a post on X yesterday that the decision by Mauritius to suspend political relations with the Maldives is a matter of extreme concern.
Nasheed also stated that the hope is for both countries to talk and find a peaceful solution to this issue at the discussion table.
Among the decisions made at yesterday’s meeting of the Mauritius cabinet, it was noted that the Maldives now refuses to accept that Mauritius has sovereign power over the islands of Chagos and that the Maldives also objects to the agreement being worked on with the British government.
Therefore, the paper released by the Office of the Prime Minister of Mauritius states that the cabinet decided yesterday to suspend diplomatic relations with the Maldives starting from this moment.
The Maldivian government has not yet said anything specific regarding this decision by Mauritius.
However, speaking at a Tharaaveeh held by the ruling party PNC last Thursday night, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu reiterated his advocacy that Chagos is a place belonging to the Maldives.
Mauritius decided to suspend diplomatic relations with the Maldives after President Muizzu revealed that the Maldivian government has officially requested to hold discussions with the government of the United Kingdom, objecting to the transfer of sovereign power over the Chagos islands to Mauritius.
