A digest of news and opinion from the Maldives.
Self-exiled former president Mohamed Nasheed on Monday aimed a fresh dig at growing Chinese influence in the Maldives, accusing the global superpower of land grab in the archipelago. Speaking to reporters in neighbouring Sri Lanka, Nasheed who was convicted of contentious terrorism charges reiterated that China’s growing influence in the Maldives threatens the peace and […]
Photos: Auf Majeed Presidential elections are due to be held in the Maldives later this year, with opposition parties in talks to field a unity candidate to defeat Abdulla Yameen. But the Maldives Independent can reveal that discord among opposition leaders is threatening to derail efforts. Opposition sources have confirmed that disunity among the leaders […]
The Maldives is to celebrate National Patriotism Day on March 6, President Abdulla Yameen has said. “It is an important national campaign to instill patriotism within society,” said Wednesday’s announcement on the president’s website about the event, which is the first of its kind in the country. It is “aimed at promoting unity and culture […]
The Maldives government is “back on the route to success, while maintaining current peace and stability”, President Abdulla Yameen said in his new year message, as former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom criticised his half-brother for the continued authoritarian rule of the current regime. Yameen said the government welcomes the new year with hopes of “achieving […]
The Maldives main opposition will support a presidential candidate from another party if its own candidate is jailed or barred from contesting next year’s elections, one of several official declarations made about 2018’s key poll. Hassan Latheef, the Maldivian Democratic Party’s Chairperson, told media on Sunday that it would push to have its candidate run […]
President Abdulla Yameen has criticized diplomats for speaking about foreign policy issues in the islands, after authorities banned councils from meeting envoys without prior written permission. He said foreign policy should be discussed with the government but denied accusations his administration did not not respect diplomats, saying there were rules they needed to adhere to. […]
India is the Maldives closest ally and friend, President Abdulla Yameen said Sunday, appealing for restraint towards its regional neighbour. The president, who is island hopping around the north inaugurating projects, made the remarks days after a hostile editorial was removed from a pro-government website. The Vaguthu article had blasted India, saying it was not […]
Five ministries have broken the law by not responding to right to information requests from the Maldives Independent, which wanted to fact check claims made by President Abdulla Yameen. Yameen challenged “political leaders who say they do not see development” at a November 17 rally marking the four-year anniversary of his government. He said his […]
There those who are “jealous” of the Maldives’ for being a 100 percent Muslim country, the president said Wednesday in an address to mark the anniversary of the country’s embrace of Islam. President Abdulla Yameen said that staying steadfast in the path of Islam was a “religious and national duty” for all Maldivians and that […]