By Dr. Mohamed Saud, Outreach Coordinator - Maldivians4Chagos
Outreach Coordinator (Saud): Maldivians4Chagos
"Who's the leader?"
That's the first question people ask when they stumble into our movement. Journalists, students and diplomats all assume there will be a general in charge, or failing that, a chairperson to pin the story on.
But Maldivians4Chagos wasn't constructed like a government ministry, a political party or a colonial bureaucracy. We're organised in a way that our fight requires: by role, not by title. We aren't chairs, presidents, or chiefs. We do work.
While our non-hierarchical structure may be challenging for some to grasp, it is truly liberating for others. It offers an opportunity to take on roles and responsibilities that are often out of reach in a traditional hierarchy, allowing individuals to make a meaningful impact.
Our non-hierarchical framework goes beyond being a mere branding tactic; it serves as a strategic necessity, a political decision, a legal protection, and a moral philosophy. This structure aims to unravel the neat, merciless lines of colonial theft and counters the centralised command that facilitated our dispossession. It's a structure that works, and it's a structure we believe in.
Our non-hierarchical structure is not an expression of an organisation but a reflection of our decolonised orientation. Power, in our model, stems from the actions taken. If you collect oral histories of the past, you become the custodian of memory. If you draft legal briefs, you are a sovereignty researcher. If you're a translator, an organiser, or an educator, you're part of the movement. Not only does this method distribute responsibility, but it also ensures that we have heard and valued everyone's opinion, leaving us more resilient and adaptable.
No appointments. No gatekeepers. Just responsibility. We don't have one leader. We have dozens of coordinators, facilitators, and contributors everywhere who concentrate on a variety of tasks, including legal research, outreach, archiving, logistics, and more. Most of all, we share a common charge: We will reclaim what they stole, and we will do it with discipline and dignity.
Wherever people speak the truth, they unite with a shared determination that arises anew, rather than relying on a single leader to defeat. It's the collective nature of our campaign that brings everyone together and keeps our work going, no matter how much someone tries to undermine it. You are not alone in this fight; you are part of a collective movement for change.
Some, especially those raised on titles and ceremonies, find this to be threatening. Let them. We are not here to entertain hierarchy for their comfort. We're here to correct history. You don't even need a chain of command to do that. You have to have clarity, to have nerve, to have documents that can stand up at The Hague.
Because there are hierarchies in our structure, not in power, but in purpose. We have a Core Circle to coordinate logistics. A Research Desk that generates law- and history-related output. A Support and Solidarity Circle that consists of translators, designers, and volunteers. We have a 'Council of Reflection,' a group of seniors and historians who don't give orders but maintain legitimacy by providing historical context and advice. And, well, an Open Contributor Network: a movement of everyone, everywhere, who wants to contribute to our cause. This network, open to all who share our vision, comes together through research, translation, design, and any other way we can imagine activism.
This model is not only moral. It's smart. It protects us from co-option. It liberates us from the rituals of NGO theatre. And it serves as a constant reminder that this isn't about you. It's about national reclamation.
We're not asking for applause. We're asking for alignment. So, to those of you wondering how to get in league with us, here's your answer: Start doing something worthwhile. By 'alignment,' we mean sharing our vision, understanding our mission, and actively contributing to our cause.
Draft a memo. Translate a brief. Organise a forum. Review a treaty. Talk to your family. Speak to your Council. Teach someone unfamiliar with the Chagos Islands how to locate them on a map. Don't wait for permission. There is no application form. The only requirement is clear intent.
We will soon go live with our internal structure for the public to check out. This structure will detail the roles, the tiers of coverage, the work we do, and the belief that unites us. It will outline a detailed plan for your involvement and what you can anticipate. If you recognise yourself in it, come forward. You won't so much get promoted as activated. We aren't assembling a pyramid; we are reassembling a people.
Because we are not building a pyramid, we are rebuilding a people.