The official list of terrorist organisations designated under the Anti-Terrorism Act has been published in the Government Gazette following a review of legal procedures, with 19 groups reaffirmed as threats to national security.

Under the Act, the President is required to publish and update the list of designated terrorist organisations annually, based on recommendations submitted by the National Security Council. The gazetted list includes internationally recognised extremist groups such as Al-Qaeda and its affiliated organisations, as well as the Islamic State (IS).

Other organisations named on the list include Boko Haram, Al-Shabaab, the Abu Sayyaf Group, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, and Jaish-e-Mohammed. The gazette notification also details the dates on which each organisation was initially designated and subsequently re-listed over the years. No new organisations were added to the list this year, with the update reflecting the continuation of existing designations in line with legal requirements.

The Prevention of Terrorism Act, which came into force in March 2016, mandates the publication of an official list of terrorist organisations and designated terrorist zones as part of the Government’s efforts to safeguard national security and fulfil international counter-terrorism obligations.

The annual gazetting of the list forms part of the Maldives’ legal and institutional framework to prevent terrorism, strengthen national security coordination, and maintain compliance with international security commitments.