Rakeedhoo residents shut down island’s council following mass resignations hindering services

Residents of V. Rakeedhoo, one of the Maldives’ least populated islands, shut down the island council office on Monday in protest after essential public services were disrupted following the mass resignation of administrative staff and two council members.

Photos shared on X by Vaavu Atoll Council President Ali Shujau showed tables placed across the entrance of the Rakeedhoo Council office, blocking access to the building.

In his post, Shujau said the interruption to administrative services stemmed directly from the recent staff resignations.

ވ.ރަކީދޫ ކައުންސިލު އިދާރާގަ އިދާރީ ހުރިހާ މުވައްޒަފުން އިސްތިއުފާދެއްވުމާ، ކައުންސިލަރުންގެ ތެރެއިން 3 މެންބަރަކު ކައުންސިލުން ވަކިވެފައިވާ މި ދަނޑިވަޅުގާ، ކައުންސިލު އިދާރާއިން ރައްޔިތުންނަށް ދޭންޖެހޭ އެއްވެސް ޚިދުމަތެއް މިވަގުތު ލިބެމުން ނުދާތީ، ވ.ރަކީދޫ ރައްޔިތުންގެ ތެރެއިން… pic.twitter.com/1u3NT3hisb

— Shuja VAAVU RAEES (@Shuj4uAli) March 2, 2026

Rakeedhoo Council President Abdulla Rasheed confirmed to Sun that the administrative employees had stepped down a week earlier. He added that, along with three administrative staff members, two councilors — including the Vice President — had also resigned.

"Two members of the council, including the Vice President, have resigned. An additional council member has also resigned. Furthermore, the administrative staff have resigned as well. Currently, there is no one available to manage the administrative operations of the Rakeedhoo Council," Abdulla Rasheed explained.

He said efforts are ongoing to hire new administrative staff, noting that both the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Local Government Authority (LGA), which oversees councils, have been formally informed of the staffing needs.

However, Abdulla Rasheed pointed to a major legal obstacle: recent amendments to the Decentralization Act bar councils from recruiting new employees in the final year of their term without approval from the LGA and the Finance Ministry. So far, he said, neither the CSC nor the LGA has granted the required authorization.

According to Abdulla Rasheed, residents decided to close the council office in response to the situation.

Although Rakeedhoo has a registered population of about 360, only 61 people currently live on the island.

During President Mohamed Muizzu’s visit to Rakeedhoo last September, he met with residents, many of whom expressed interest in relocating to another island.

However, Abdulla clarified that most residents do not want to move, noting that a large share of the island’s registered population already resides elsewhere.