The Maldives has been elected to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the 2027–2029 term, marking the first time the country has secured a seat on the body since joining the United Nations in 1965.
The election took place at the UN Headquarters in New York on Friday. The Maldives received 183 votes and was elected alongside Malaysia and the Republic of Korea to fill the three seats allocated to the Asia-Pacific Group.
The Maldives’ three-year term will begin on 1 January 2027.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the election reflects the confidence of UN member states in the Maldives’ longstanding engagement on sustainable development, climate action and financing for development, as well as its advocacy on issues affecting small island developing states.
Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam described the result as a historic achievement for the country and said it demonstrated international confidence in the Maldives’ foreign policy and its contributions to global discussions on development and climate issues.
Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations, Ali Naseer Mohamed, said the election carried both opportunities and responsibilities, noting that the Maldives would work with member states to strengthen ECOSOC’s role in promoting implementation, partnerships and practical solutions to development challenges.
ECOSOC is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations. It coordinates the organisation’s work on economic, social and related issues and plays a central role in reviewing progress towards internationally agreed development goals, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
