The Maldivian Supreme Court has rejected a constitutional motion seeking to quash a letter sent by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to the Prime Minister of Mauritius regarding the British-occupied Chagos Islands, which is a key issue in the Chagos Islands dispute. The President’s letter to the Prime Minister of Mauritius last year stated that the Maldives would vote to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. Former Home Minister Umar Naseer and two others filed a constitutional case in the Supreme Court. They sought to revoke the letter and all transactions in connection with it. However, the Supreme Court confirmed that the registrar refused to accept the case. Even if the registrar’s decision is appealed, the court bench will have to consider it.

The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea has already ruled that the Maldives would get 47,000 square kilometers. Additionally, Mauritius would get 45,000 square kilometers. This is in a dispute over the maritime boundary between the two nations.

The Chagos Islands are the subject of a longstanding territorial dispute between Mauritius and the United Kingdom. In 2019, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution requesting that the United Kingdom withdraw its administration from the Chagos Islands. It also requested that the territory be returned to Mauritius.

The Maldivian President’s decision to support Mauritius’ claim to the islands has been controversial and drawn criticism. However, the President has defended his decision, stating that it is based on justice and fairness.

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