No Confidence Motion Filed Against Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid Amid Growing EEZ Controversy

A no confidence motion against Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid has been submitted to the Parliament, marking a significant escalation in the political fallout over the controversial loss of Maldives' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The motion, which was submitted by members of multiple political parties, including opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and Peoples' National Congress (PNC), Jumhoory Party, Maldives National Party, and lawmakers from the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) loyal to former president Nasheed, was announced at a joint press conference held by the respective parliament members today.

The no-confidence motion is rooted in the loss of a substantial part of the Maldivian EEZ to Mauritius. The loss, a staggering 45,331 km2, came about as a result of a ruling by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) on 28 April 2023. The parliament members primarily hold the government, specifically Attorney General Ibrahim Riffath, Foreign Minister Shahid, and President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, responsible for this significant loss.

This move comes on the heels of a no confidence motion submitted against Attorney General Ibrahim Riffath last week. The members of the parliament assert that the loss of the EEZ is due to negligence on part of the government, which failed to adequately protect Maldives' territorial interests.

Earlier, former President Nasheed tweeted criticizing President Solih for his negligence, stating that the loss of a significant part of the EEZ occurred due to the President's decision, which was made without consultation with the parliament. Amid this backdrop of growing criticism, the filing of a no confidence motion against Foreign Minister Shahid underscores the severity of the political fallout surrounding the EEZ controversy. The government and the involved officials are yet to respond to these allegations.