Parliament backs Dhiyana for appointment as Maldives’ new ambassador to Belgium and EU

The Parliament has approved former Attorney General Fathimath Dhiyana Saeed for appointment as Maldives’ new ambassador to Belgium and the European Union (EU).

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu had nominated Dhiyana for the role earlier in July.

It came after former ambassador Geela Ali was appointed as health minister as part of a major cabinet reshuffle back in April.

The Parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee had backed Dhiyana to fill the vacancy back on July 15.

The final floor vote took place on Wednesday, and saw Dhiyana secure the Parliament’s backing with a unanimous vote of 52.

Dhiyana, along with former Local Government Minister Adam Shareef Umar and former Environment Minister Thoriq Ibrahim, the latter two of whom were dismissed from the cabinet as part of the same reshuffle, were appointed to the role of Ambassador-at-Large at the Foreign Ministry in April.

Adam Shareef was appointed as ambassador to Qatar, and Thoriq as ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in June.

Dhiyana had served as Attorney General in former President Mohamed Nasheed’s administration, and as Gender Minister during former President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik’s administration.