President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has reaffirmed the Maldives’ historical and sovereign rights over the Chagos Islands, declaring that no nation holds a stronger or more legitimate claim should the territory be restored to its rightful owner.
In his third Presidential Address at the inaugural session of Parliament on 5 February, President Muizzu outlined his administration’s efforts to reclaim jurisdiction over the archipelago. In a marked departure from the policies of his predecessors, he confirmed the formal withdrawal of a letter previously dispatched to Mauritius, signalling an unequivocal rejection of the former administration’s approach.
At a press conference on 2 March, the president underscored that extensive historical evidence establishes the Chagos Islands as Maldivian territory. He stated: “Should the United Kingdom determine to transfer the territory to a sovereign state, the Maldives remains the singular legitimate recipient; we have initiated all necessary operations to advance this cause, and we intend to formally submit our claims to the relevant global authorities in strict compliance with international standards, even as we maintain our current collaborative engagements with the UK government.”
To reinforce this position, President Muizzu announced the creation of a specialised committee dedicated to recovering maritime zones lost following the ruling by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).
The president also addressed the recent severance of diplomatic relations by Mauritius, dismissing the move as unfounded and illogical. He stressed that unilateral actions cannot confer legitimacy upon Mauritian claims, reaffirming that the Maldives will continue to advance under its defining 'Maldives First' policy.
Geography strengthens the president's case. While Port Louis, the Mauritian capital, lies approximately 1,300 miles from the Chagos archipelago, Malé is situated just 310 miles away. Centuries of historical and cultural ties add further weight, substantiated by documentation and artefacts.
Among the most compelling evidence are tombstones discovered on the Chagos Islands bearing Dhivehi inscriptions, indistinguishable from ancient tombstones preserved across the Maldivian islands. These archaeological remnants testify to a longstanding relationship between the two territories.
Maldivian folklore also supports this presence, with centuries-old accounts referencing maritime travellers and fishermen residing on the islands. President Muizzu highlighted archival evidence, including a sixteenth-century royal letter and accompanying map issued by Sultan Hassan IX, explicitly proclaiming Maldivian sovereignty over the archipelago. This documented authority predates the initial human settlement of Mauritius by more than a century.
Modern scientific analysis has reinforced the president's historical claims. Archaeological findings verified through carbon dating, alongside genetic testing of the original Chagossian inhabitants, who were forcibly displaced in the 1970s to facilitate construction of a joint UK-United States military installation, reveal a definitive shared ancestry encompassing both Maldivian and Creole lineages.