In recognition of the institution's 75th anniversary, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has extended his congratulations to the employees of the Attorney General's Office (AGO) for their years of service.
In a post shared on his social media platforms on the occasion of AGO’s diamond jubilee, the President thanked and congratulated all those who have served in the office over the past 75 years.
In addition, the President paid tribute to those who have served the country as Attorney Generals and extended his best wishes to them.
Throughout its constitutional history, the Office of the Attorney General in the Maldives has seen its functions evolve. In 1950, a significant change occurred when the Office was established as a separate and independent entity. This new status meant it was no longer required to appear at the investigative stage of cases, except for criminal and political matters.
Further changes were made during the 1960s, when the Office's involvement was completely removed from all stages of the investigation process after which the office's name was officially changed to the Attorney General's Office. Following this name change, an amendment to Chapter 1 of Official Affairs granted the Attorney General membership in the Cabinet.
By 1978, the responsibilities of the Attorney General's Office had expanded once again. In addition to its existing duties, the Office was also required to provide legal advice to government agencies and to manage the legal aspects of various agreements between the Government of Maldives and other parties.
The new constitution implemented in 1998 formally established the Attorney General as a cabinet member and explicitly defined the office's duties. In the early 2000s, the office played a crucial role in the reform agenda to establish a modern democratic system in the Maldives.
The AGO also oversaw the newly formed Law Commission of the Maldives from its establishment in 2002 until it became an independent body in 2008. Additionally, the office was involved in the planning and management of the country's first law library.
The "New" Constitution of August 2008 introduced a multi-party political system and led to the appointment of the first Attorney General under the new system, Fathimath Dhiyana Saeed. The incumbent Attorney General of the Maldives is Ahmed Usham, who was appointed on 17 November 2023 is the seventh Attorney General to serve under the new constitution.