Asward becomes latest to resign in major cabinet shakeup

Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts Minister Ibrahim Waheed (Asward) joined at least four other ministers in resigning from President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s cabinet on Tuesday, as two other ministers were dismissed in a major cabinet shakeup.

The two ministers who faced the axe were Foreign Minister Dr. Abdulla Khaleel and Social and Family Development Minister Dr. Aishath Shiham.

Meanwhile, Asward becomes the fifth to resign from the cabinet, after Defense Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon, Local Government Minister Adam Shareef Umar, Agriculture and Animal Welfare Minister Dr. Mariyam Mariya and Health Minister Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim.

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.