Mariya and Nazim join Ghassan and Adam Shareef in resigning from cabinet

Agriculture and Animal Welfare Minister Dr. Mariyam Mariya and Health Minister Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim became the latest to resign from President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s cabinet on Tuesday, as the post-election shakeup reached the cabinet.

Foreign Minister Dr. Abdulla Khaleel and Social and Family Development Minister were dismissed, while Mariya and Nazim joined Defense Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon, Local Government Minister Adam Shareef Umar in tendering their resignation.

The cabinet shakeup comes in the wake of a major defeat for the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) in the recent local council elections and referendum, which saw the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) sweep a majority of seats in local councils.

President Muizzu conceded defeat in the elections, and promised to implement “reforms where needed.”

The days that followed have seen a series of resignations and dismissals rock the top management of state-owned enterprises, as well as the President’s Office, and now the cabinet itself.