Maldives president says predecessor was acting on orders of ‘foreign ambassador’

Maldives President Mohamed Muizou said in an interview that his predecessor, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, was acting on the orders of a “foreign ambassador.”

In an interview with Public Service Media (PSM) and responding to a question about opposition criticism of the recent procurement of military drones, Muizou said the main opposition Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) also had an absolute majority when the parliament was formed. In power from 2018 to 2023.

“However, the party failed to protect the independence of the Maldives, leaving it in foreign hands,” news portal Sun.mv quoted Muizou as saying.

The Maldives purchased surveillance drones from Turkey in early March to patrol its vast exclusive economic zone, news agencies reported. PTI. The country also plans to establish a drone base on Nunu Atoll in Mafaru.

The Maldivian president further said that Ibrahim Solih “acted on the orders of a foreign ambassador and caused widespread damage,” the news portal reported. Notably, Muizou did not mention any country or any diplomat by name, according to the portal.

“We have lost our independence in every aspect, including economic independence. After all this, they will naturally not accept our efforts to remedy all this and put this country on the track that the Maldivian people want, Toward the ‘Kingdom of Dhivehi.'” .

Mohamed Muizzu said after returning from China in January that the government was looking to procure surveillance drones.

He also announced on March 4 that the Maldives was working to establish a 24/7 monitoring system of Maldivian waters this month to ensure control of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), despite its considerable size, the news agency reported. PTI.

When asked about the cost of the drones, Muizou said that while he believed in transparency, no country should reveal such military secrets.

“I rely heavily on the advice of our secretary of defense and our generals on issues critical to our national security. Therefore, I will follow their advice and listen to their opinions.”

The President also stated that Maldives’ independence has no value and is in fact “priceless”.

(Inputs from PTI)