The President of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of the Maldives, Al Uz. Adam Shamil delivered a strong national statement at the 11th Conference of States Parties (COSP11) to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), warning that corruption poses an existential threat to Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Addressing delegates in Doha, President Shamil emphasized that corruption undermines the Maldives’ Public Sector Investment Program, diverting critical resources away from climate resilience at a time when the island nation can least afford such losses.

“For us, fighting corruption is a matter of survival,” he said, invoking a Dhivehi proverb that underscores the importance of assessing risks before embarking on a journey.

President Shamil highlighted the Maldives’ aggressive reforms since acceding to UNCAC, noting that the independent Anti-Corruption Commission has identified over 1.6 billion Maldivian Rufiyaa (approximately USD 100 million) in corruption proceeds and has instructed relevant authorities to recover the funds.

To strengthen cross-border recovery, the Maldives has submitted an Asset Recovery Model Law to Parliament and aligned its national anti-corruption strategy with the country’s long-term development agenda and “Maldives 2.0,” the government’s digital transformation vision.

Underscoring the transnational nature of corruption, President Shamil referred to the Saudi–Maldives International Forum on Integrity, co-hosted by the Maldives. The forum brought together experts from more than 40 OIC member states and produced High-Level Principles on Strengthening Integrity in the Tourism Sector, which will be presented at the upcoming OIC Ministerial Meeting.

The ACC has expanded prevention efforts through social audit programs and, in conjunction with International Anti-Corruption Day 2023, established the Maldives National Anti-Corruption Academy (MNACA) and an independent Anti-Corruption Trust Fund. The Maldives called on global anti-corruption academies and funding institutions to partner in these initiatives.

Acknowledging administrative delays as a major challenge, President Shamil outlined the ACC’s adoption of digital tools, including “Kaathibu,” an AI-powered transcription system, and “Libeege,” an automated case update platform, aimed at accelerating investigations and improving institutional responsiveness.

Looking ahead, he warned that corruption is entering a technological arms race, with corrupt actors exploiting artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency to conceal illicit activities.

“We cannot allow the corrupt to operate at the speed of algorithms while justice relies on analog methods,” he cautioned.

Concluding his statement, President Shamil called for shared learning and high-tech, tailored support for Small Island Developing States, urging the international community to bridge the digital divide and ensure that innovations in forensic and investigative tools benefit all countries.

“The Maldives stands ready to work with all nations,” he said, “with renewed solidarity to safeguard our collective future.”