‘Operated On Orders Of A Foreign Envoy’: Muizzu’s Says Predecessor Solih Failed To Protect Maldives’ Independence

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu told Maldives’ state-run media outlet Public Service Media (PSM) that his predecessor Ibrahim Mohamed Solih took orders from “a foreign ambassador”, without naming the country of origin of the said envoy.

“(Solih) operated on orders from a foreign ambassador, which resulted in extensive damage,” he said.

His response came when asked about the opposition’s criticism regarding the recent procurement of army drones. Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) said the deal with Turkey to buy drones to conduct 24-hour surveillance of Maldivian waters was overpriced and questioned Muizzu’s Turkey visit and said the drone deal could have been cheaper as there are more affordable options on the global market.

Muizzu said the MDP held a supermajority in the majlis when it was in power from 2018 to 2023 but failed to protect the archipelagic nation’s independence.

“The party failed to protect Maldives’ independence, leaving it in the hands of a foreign country,” the recently-elected President told Maldivian news outlets.

“We had lost independence in all senses of the word, including economically. After having done all this, they would naturally not accept our efforts to remedy all this and put the country on a track that the Maldivian people want, towards a ‘Dhivehinge Raajje’ (Kingdom of the Dhivehi people),” he further added.

Earlier this month, Muizzu pledged to strengthen the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and said the current condition of the army of Asia’s smallest country is poor.

In order to strengthen the forces, the administration acquired drones from Turkey to monitor and patrol its vast exclusive economic zone. It will also establish a drone base in Noonu atoll in Maafaru.

Muizzu announced his plan to acquire surveillance drones upon his return from China in January. He said he wants to ensure control of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) earlier this month along with revamping the army.

But Muizzu faced criticism from the opposition when he did not disclose the price of the purchase of drones and cited military secret as a reason for his non-disclosure of the specifics of the deal.

“In such matters that are crucial to national security, I am heavily reliant on counsel from our chief of defence force and our generals. Therefore, I will follow their counsel, and I will listen to them,” he had said.

(with inputs from Sun.mv)