Maldives quits Commonwealth citing ‘unfair and unjust’ treatment

The move comes after the Commonwealth’s democracy watchdog placed the Maldives on its formal agenda in late September. The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group also warned of suspension if steps are not taken by March 2017 to resolve a protracted political crisis triggered by the jailing of opposition leaders last year.

Briefing the press at the president’s office this afternoon, Foreign Minister Dr Mohamed Asim described the decision as “difficult but necessary”.

Asim said in a prepared statement: “The CMAG and the Commonwealth Secretariat seem to be convinced that the Maldives, because of the high and favourable reputation that the country enjoys internationally, and also perhaps because it is a small state that lacks material power, would be an easy object that can be used, especially in the name of democracy promotion, to increase the organisation’s own relevance and leverage in international politics.”