Half of cabinet resigned so President can follow 'will of the people', says President’s Office

The mass resignation of members of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s cabinet on Tuesday was to allow room for him to implement necessary changes in order to run the government in accordance with the will of the people, says the President’s Office.

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

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 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.