Ever since the premature downfall of former president Mohamed Nasheed in an alleged 'coup', Maldives has been unable to completely shake the unrelenting spotlight of international attention.
The Commonwealth spearheaded an international effort to 'restore democracy' in the tiny island nation after the country was marred by unprecedented political turmoil in the post Nasheed era.
Though a inquiry commission led by the then 53 member bloc effectively ruled out Nasheed's claims of a coup, the archipelago failed to evade the ever present international limelight.
The presidential elections and swearing in of president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom in 2013 was expected to finally get the international community off Maldives' back after Nasheed conceded defeat in the runoff of a marathon elections.
However, the respite was short-lived as Nasheed's conviction and subsequent jailing on terrorism charges sprung the country back into global eminence albeit for the wrong reasons.
Since then the Maldives government had been forced to ward off intense international criticism especially from the Commonwealth over the alleged crackdown on dissent, jailing of political opponents and increased rights violations.
The Commonwealth then appointed a special envoy as it intensified a UN backed push for political dialogue. However, the release of jailed political leaders proved to be a stumbling block and the proposed all party talks ended before it began.
The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) a watchdog body comprising of eight foreign ministers, laid out a six-point reform agenda in February, which included the release of political prisoners and judicial reform.
Despite the Maldives government pleading for more time, CMAG proceeded to place Maldives on its formal agenda and warned the archipelago of suspension from the Commonwealth if it fails to make substantial progress to resolve the persistent political strife.
The decision proved to be the final nail in the coffin brimming with incessant international censure, as the Maldives government left the Commonwealth, 34 years after it joined the bloc.
Foreign minister Dr Mohamed Asim flanked by Attorney General Mohamed Anil told reporters shortly after that the decision was “extremely difficult,” but was necessary to “protect the sovereignty” of the archipelago.
Asim said the Maldives government has fully cooperated with the Commonwealth since the controversial resignation of former president Mohamed Nasheed in 2012.
“Regrettably, the Commonwealth has not recognised that progress and achievements that the Maldives accomplished in cultivating a culture of democracy in the country and in building and strengthening democratic institutions,” Asim added.
“CMAG has continued to take unjust and biased actions against us. They’ve made life very difficult for the Maldives because we are strategically small."
The Attorney General during the press conference had accused CMAG of attempting to circumvent the rule of the law in the Maldives.
“We have always admitted that Maldives remains at the infancy stage of democracy and needs to strengthen every state institution. But CMAG has been asking to intervene in certain trials. To influence court verdicts. That is something we simply cannot do. It’s against every international law and is clearly an infringement of our sovereignty,” Anil had said.
The repercussions of the historic decision remains to be seen, but at least from a government perspective, the message was loud, concise and decisive. Maldives despite its diminutive size, would no longer tolerate the developed world interfering and dictating its fortunes.
