Former president says atolls are being deserted at an 'extraordinary rate' amid policy shifts

Former President Mohamed Nasheed said on Sunday evening that the country’s atolls are being deserted at an extraordinary rate, and that such a trend does not lead to prosperity.

Nasheed, who is campaigning alongside former MDP Chairman Fayyaz Ismail as the party’s incoming chairperson, made the remarks at an MDP camp event in Male' City. He said that while there are many complaints about congestion in the capital, there are also growing concerns from the islands.

Nasheed cited Th. Kinbidhoo as an example, noting that the island’s school no longer has a grade-one class due to the lack of students.

“There will be no grade-two this coming year. There will be no grade-three the next year. There will be no grade-four the year after. Eventually there will be no Kinbidhoo,” he said.

He said 65 families from the island had been given the opportunity to relocate to Male', and that such policies were accelerating the depopulation of the atolls.

Nasheed said successive governments had pursued policies that encouraged people to move closer to Male', effectively weakening the country’s rural communities. He linked the current administration’s decision to abolish atoll councils to this broader trend.

“This country is an island nation consisting of atolls. If we abolish the atolls, the direction is to abolish this Maldives that has been inherited from us since ancient times. A huge change will come to this country,” Nasheed said. He added that abolishing atoll councils would not bring prosperity to the people.

History in the making. Nasheed coming to leadership … ???? pic.twitter.com/naqVcg3Deg

— Luke (@lucasjalyl) May 3, 2026

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu came to office pledging reforms to the decentralisation system, including the abolition of atoll councils. The constitutional amendment to dissolve the councils was passed by Parliament on November 25 last year.

The amendment states that atoll councils will be abolished at the end of their current term. It was ratified by the President on December 1 last year. With the term ending on the 17th of this month, the existing atoll councils will be dissolved.

The opposition MDP has previously criticised the move, saying the change would allow the government to appoint individuals it prefers to oversee atoll‑level administration. The President has said the funds saved by abolishing atoll councils will be redirected to island councils.

Nasheed’s concerns about depopulating atolls reflect a broader national trend. With successive administrations expanding centralised social housing projects in Male', long‑inhabited islands such as G.Dh. Rathafandhoo, A.Dh. Kunburudhoo, H.Dh. Hirimaradhoo and H.A. Thakandhoo have seen significant population decline.