Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid has constituted the Foreign Service Advisory Board, as stipulated in the Maldives Foreign Service Act.
A five-member Foreign Service Advisory Board should be formed to advise the minister on foreign policy and other relevant matters, according to article 60 of the new law. The Foreign Service Advisory Board consists of Foreign Secretary Ahmed Latheef as the Chairperson, Ahmed Rasheed, as a member who had served the Foreign Service for more than 10 years and is no longer in the service, Additional Secretary Aminath Shifana as a member of the Foreign Service Executive Staff, Joint Secretary Khadeeja Najeeha as the Head of Foreign Service Institute of Maldives (FOSIM) and Desk Officer Aminath Samra from the Foreign Service General Staff. They were appointed for a term of one year.
After the formation of the Foreign Service Advisory Board, Minister Shahid said the board has been formed to represent all sectors and with emphasis on gender equality. The Foreign Service Advisory Board constituted will function in providing advice to the foreign minister on matters related to foreign service regulations, organization structure, and other matters of interest in strengthening the foreign service.
The Maldives Foreign Service Act was ratified by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in November 2021 and came into effect in May 2022. The Maldives Foreign Service governs the establishment of a separate entity titled Foreign Service to implement the foreign policy of the Maldives and specifies its organisational structure, management policy, and matters relating to diplomatic cadre. The act also stipulates the president is the highest authority tasked with overseeing and directing the foreign policy of the Maldives.