President Dr Mohamed Muizzu on Sunday conferred the Most Distinguished Foreign Service Medal upon Ahmed Saleem, recognising a career that has profoundly shaped the nation’s diplomatic and administrative landscape over more than five decades.
The honour, presented during a special Independence Day event, reflects Saleem’s extensive and enduring contributions to the Maldives’ foreign service and broader public administration. His service to the state commenced on 7 July 1968, and he has since become one of the longest-serving figures in the country’s foreign affairs sector, dedicating over 35 years to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Over the course of his diplomatic tenure, Saleem held a succession of senior posts, including Maldivian High Commissioner to Pakistan and Non-Resident Ambassador to Nepal. He was the first Maldivian appointed as director to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), later serving as its secretary-general. His cumulative service to SAARC spanned five years and six months, underscoring a sustained commitment to regional diplomacy.
His leadership within the foreign affairs ministry extended beyond formal postings. Saleem headed several key departments, notably the International Organisations Section, and represented the Maldives at numerous high-level international forums. He played a pivotal role in securing foreign aid to support national development and oversaw the ministry’s Foreign Service Institute, helping to shape the next generation of Maldivian diplomats.
Saleem’s record of public service also includes significant contributions to human rights. In 2003, he was appointed to the Maldives’ first Human Rights Commission, established by presidential decree. Following the ratification of the 2008 Constitution, he became the inaugural president of the newly constituted Human Rights Commission, which continues to operate under the current legal framework.
Beyond diplomacy and human rights, Saleem held senior roles across a range of government institutions. His appointments included Controller of Immigration and Emigration, Deputy Director of the Department of Information and Broadcasting, and Director of Sports at the Ministry of Home Affairs and Sports. He later served as Director General at the Ministry of Youth, Women’s Affairs and Sports, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Social Security, and the Ministry of Transport and Communication.
With more than 54 years of continuous service to the state, Saleem’s legacy is deeply embedded in the Maldives’ governance, diplomacy, and institutional development. The conferral of the Most Distinguished Foreign Service Medal stands as a formal recognition of his enduring impact and unwavering dedication to the nation.