President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih Authorizes Foreign Service Act To The Maldives

The Maldives Foreign Service Act administrates the establishment of a separate entity titled "Foreign Service" to implement the foreign policy of the Maldives and specify its organizational structure, management policy, and matters relating to the diplomatic unit. On November 14^th, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih authorized and signed the Maldives Foreign Service Act (Act no: 20/2021) that will completely change the Foreign Service Act, establishing a new and separate institution called “Maldives Foreign Service”.

The Maldives Foreign Service Act would impose that the institution would oversee all Maldivian missions and consular posts. The Act also specifies that the President is the highest authority tasked with overseeing and directing the Maldives' foreign policy. The Act also states that the Minister, under guidance from the President, is authorized to manage the daily execution of the service.

Furthermore, the act also imposes that a Foreign Secretary must be appointed, who shall assist the Minister in the execution of foreign service duties. The Foreign Secretary is the highest-ranking member of the Foreign Service staff and that all Foreign Service staff and outside staff working in similar positions must report to the Foreign Secretary. The President has the discretionary power of appointment or termination upon advice from the Minister.

In conclusion, the Foreign Service Act specifies that the Maldives Foreign Service shall be established within 90 days of the Act's coming into force and consist of executive service staff and general service staff. Furthermore, with the enactment of the Act, all the functions of the Foreign Service Institute under the Ministry will be transformed into an institute empowered under the Act. Upon ratification, it has now been published in the Government Gazette and will come into effect six months from the endorsement date.