A Maldivian parliamentary committee decided on Monday to review three agreements signed by former president Ibrahim Solih’s administration with India, including a pact to develop a naval base.
The parliamentary panel overseeing security services accepted a proposal from Ahmed Azaan, a member of President Mohamed Muizzu’s People’s National Congress (PNC) party, to investigate the three agreements.
“Today, the National Security Services Committee of the parliament has decided to conduct a parliamentary inquiry to investigate actions undertaken by President @ibusolih‘s administration that undermined the sovereignty and independence of the Maldives,” Azaan said in a post on X.
This decision coincided with Muizzu’s visit to India for the inauguration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third term. During the visit, Muizzu met with Modi and Union Minister S Jaishankar in the Indian capital to discuss strengthening cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Azaan initially suggested that the panel investigate all agreements signed by the former administration with India. However, other members preferred to focus on specific agreements. Azaan then proposed examining a 2019 agreement with India for hydrographic surveys, an agreement to develop the Uthuru Thila Falhu naval base, and an agreement in which India gifted a Dornier aircraft to the Maldives.
Muizzu’s government has already decided to scrap the hydrographic survey agreement. Azaan questioned why the Solih administration had signed these agreements and expressed concerns about the naval base agreement, noting that the Maldives National Defence Force’s senior leadership was not consulted.
Azaan suggested forming a sub-committee to examine these agreements and any other actions of the previous government that might have jeopardized the Maldives’ sovereignty.
The parliamentary panel subsequently established a sub-committee of four MPs, including Azaan. It was not clear when the sub-committee would present its findings.
