Maldives Political Crisis

Maldives' Democrats party prez resigns, leaders return to parent party

Hassan Latheef, president of The Democrats, a major opposition party of Maldives, resigned on Saturday while a few senior leaders returned to their parent party. While Latheef has resigned from the post, Democrats senior members Hussain Amru, Ali Azim and Mohamed Shifaz have switched to Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), news portal Edition.mv said here. "I resigned because I believe it is very important at this time," he told Mihaaru News, Editions' sister publication. A senior official of The Democrats told the Sun.mv news portal that though Hassan has resigned from the party's leadership role, it is uncertain if he has exited the party entirely. The Democrats party was formed after some members broke away from the MDP following a rift ahead of the September 2023 presidential elections. One faction of the MDP continued allegiance to then President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih --- who is seen as a strong Indian ally and had lost his bid for re-election to Mohamed Muizzu. The other facti

Maldives feels the pinch as Indians shun the islands. What do numbers say?

Nationalism, coupled with cheaper alternatives and ease of visa access to countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia, is driving Indian tourism away from the Maldives

Suspended Maldives minister apologises after post on Indian flag sparks row

Mariyam Shiuna had shared a social media post showing an opposition party's poster with the Ashok Chakra in the middle

No Indian troops, not even in civilian clothing on my island: Maldives Prez

Stepping up his anti-India rhetoric, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has affirmed that no Indian military personnel, not even those in civilian clothing, would be present inside his country after May 10, a media report said on Tuesday. Muizzu's statement comes less than a week after an Indian civilian team reached the Maldives to take charge of one of the three aviation platforms in the island nation, well ahead of the March 10 deadline agreed by the two nations for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel. Addressing the Baa atoll Eydhafushi residential community during his tour across the atoll, the President stated that due to his government's success in expelling Indian troops from the country, people who spread false rumours, are attempting to twist the situation, a news portal Edition.mv reported. That these people [Indian military] are not departing, that they are returning after changing their uniforms into civilian clothing. We must not indulge such thoughts that insti

Maldives govt will scuttle illegal efforts to impeach Prez Muizzu: Minister

Accusing the Opposition of trying to illegally overthrow Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu's government in less than 100 days in power, a senior minister has said the administration would not allow them to do so unless they cut "every vein in our throats". The comments by Minister of Islamic Affairs Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed came on Sunday as he was accompanying Muizzu on his first trip to Addu, the second-largest urban area in the Maldives in terms of population. Pro-China Muizzu, 45, defeated India-friendly incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the presidential runoff held in September last year. Saeed alleged that the government is facing challenges from inside and out, and were being bombarded with the relentless spread of misinformation and baseless rumours, The Edition reported. He said that it is the responsibility of the Opposition to hold the government accountable. However, he said, it is not part of holding a government accountable to attempt to create obstacles for and .

First group of Indian troops to be sent back before Mar 10: Prez Muizzu

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu on Monday said the first group of Indian military personnel will be sent back from the island nation before March 10, while the remaining Indians manning two aviation platforms will be withdrawn by May 10. In his maiden address to Parliament, Muizzu, widely seen as a pro-China leader, said he believes a large majority of Maldivians support his administration with the expectation that they will remove foreign military presence from the country, and recover the lost oceanic territory. He said his administration will not allow any State agreements that may compromise the country's sovereignty, The Edition newspaper reported. Soon after taking oath as the President of Maldives on November 17, Muizzu formally requested India to withdraw 88 military personnel from his country by March 15, saying the Maldivian people have given him a "strong mandate" to make this request to New Delhi. "Diplomatic discussions with other nations that the President can cond

Maldives' top lawyer, appointed by Oppn, attacked amid political turmoil

Hussain Shameem, appointed by the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), was rushed to the Maldives's ADK Hospital and is currently receiving treatment

Maldives President Muizzu's impeachment looms day after Parliament clashes

The development followed a day after clashes broke out in the Maldives Parliament over the approval of four members of the pro-China President's cabinet on Sunday

3 Maldivian ministers suspended indefinitely for remarks against PM Modi

The Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) has strongly condemned derogatory remarks made by officials in the tourism-dependent country

Maldives Prez Muizzu arrives in China, set to sign several agreements

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu arrived here on Monday on a five-day state visit during which he is due to hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and sign several agreements to bolster the bilateral ties. Muizzu, who is regarded as pro-China, is accompanied by his wife Sajidha Mohamed and a high-level delegation. The President and the First Lady were greeted by senior Chinese officials upon their arrival. Muizzu's maiden visit to China, however, has been marred by a huge diplomatic row triggered by the derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi by some Maldivian ministers after he posted a video of him on a pristine beach during his visit to Lakshadweep. The Maldivian envoy to India was on Monday summoned to the external affairs ministry and conveyed strong concern over remarks. Muizzu is due to hold talks with Chinese President Xi and sign several agreements to bolster the bilateral ties, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang ...

Maldives Foreign Minister calls remarks against PM Modi 'unacceptable'

In a post shared on X, Zameer stated, "The recent remarks against foreign leaders and our close neighbours are unacceptable and do not reflect the official position of the Government of Maldives"

After Doklam, don't want Maldives to become flashpoint with India: China

The current situation in the Maldives is its internal affairs: China

Maldives top court revokes order to release nine political prisoners

Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and another judge, Ali Hameed, were arrested after President Yameen declared a state of emergency yesterday

Maldives crisis: India expected to follow SOP; to keep troops ready

The Indian Navy patrols sea lanes around the Maldives as naval cooperation between the two countries are robust

Maldives political crisis: Former leader, 2 Supreme Court judges arrested

The Supreme Court ruling last week ordering the release of the imprisoned opposition leaders has led to increasing turmoil

Maldives president declares war on top court, refuses to enforce its order

The government response came after last week's court order that said the dissident political leaders' guilty verdicts had been politically influenced