Former president warns of rising costs, urges clear communication on war‑related risks

Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said the public must be given accurate information about the economic difficulties that may arise from the ongoing conflict triggered by the US‑ and Israeli‑led attacks on Iran.

Speaking at a rally on Sunday, Solih said the war has already affected the Maldives, noting a decline in tourist arrivals and rising global oil prices.

He said the government has a responsibility to communicate the situation clearly to the public.

“The most important thing right now is to provide true information to the people. The government can do that, and it is the government’s responsibility,” he said, adding that the previous administration had taken a similar approach during the COVID‑19 pandemic.

Solih criticised President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s recent remarks on fuel supplies, saying the government had not been fully transparent.

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“Recently, he spoke at a press conference about oil, that there is nothing to worry about, that we have one month’s storage in Malé, and that more has already been ordered. But if an oil tanker does not arrive every two weeks, STO’s storage will fall to 10 or 15 days,” he said.

Solih said the Maldives consumes between 1.1 billion and 2 billion litres of fuel annually, and warned that the public must be made aware of the potential economic impact of the conflict.

He noted that global oil prices currently range between USD 92 and USD 95 per barrel, but could rise to USD 150 per barrel, similar to spikes seen during the COVID‑19 period.

“I wish this war would stop as soon as possible. But it shows no sign of ending. Tourists may still come, but tickets will be more expensive, freight will be more expensive, and as a result, commodity prices will rise,” he said.

“If you keep the people in the dark by lying or hiding the truth, the difficulties that follow will be much greater,” he added.

Solih also noted that 35 percent of tourists to the Maldives come from the Middle East, a region directly affected by the conflict, which could further impact tourism.

Fuel prices in the Maldives were recently increased due to rising global prices linked to the war. The government has said it is monitoring the situation and has sufficient reserves.