Adam Naseer becomes 10th minister to resign from cabinet

Dhivehi Language, Culture and Heritage Minister Adam Naseer Ibrahim has also resigned from President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s cabinet in a major post-election shakeup.

The President’s Office has issued a statement announcing that 10 ministers – making for half of the cabinet - resigned on Tuesday.

They are:

• Foreign Minister Dr. Abdulla Khaleel
• Social and Family Development Minister Dr. Aishath Shiham
• Defense Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon
• Local Government Minister Adam Shareef Umar
• Agriculture and Animal Welfare Minister Dr. Mariyam Mariya
• Health Minister Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim
• Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts Minister Ibrahim Waheed (Asward)
• Tourism and Environment Minister Ibrahim Thoriq
• Higher Education Minister Dr. Ali Haidar Ahmed
• Dhivehi Language, Culture and Heritage Minister Adam Naseer Ibrahim

10 ministers remain safe from the purge. They are:

• Attorney General Ahmed Usham
• Finance Minister Moosa Zameer
• Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusan
• Education Minister Dr. Ismail Shafeeu
• Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed
• Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam
• Islamic Minister Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed
• Sports Minister Abdulla Rafiu
• Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen
• Housing Minister Dr. Abdulla Muthalib

The President’s Office states that President Muizzu accepted their resignation, and thanked them for their service.

According to the statement, the ministers resigned “to allow room for the president to make the positive changes he wishes to make in order to run the government in line with the will of the people.”

The major 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.