Gov’t says City Council delays forced land repossession, vows not to compromise on President's pledges

Government spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef (Mundhu) says several development projects have stalled due to the Male’ City Council’s lack of cooperation, and that the state will not allow national projects to be delayed by any party, a position he says prompted the repossession of land under the council’s jurisdiction.

The Housing Ministry announced on Thursday that it had decided to take over 14 plots of land previously managed by the council, including the Fish Market, Sultan Park and the Carnival area. In response, the council convened an emergency meeting on Friday night and unanimously resolved to file a court case. Mayor Adam Azim said the lands taken by the state generate significant income for the council, and warned that losing them would hinder its ability to provide services in the future.

Asked about the council’s decision to go to court, the government’s head spokesperson Mundhu said the repossession stemmed from persistent non-cooperation. “We do not wish for development projects to be delayed by any party when we have promised to complete them by a certain date. We are taking these measure to expedite the work of an SOE if not a ministry, for example,” he said.

The spokesperson added that the government will not compromise on any matter related to fulfilling the promises made by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu. “There are works that have not started because of them, and some matters have been delayed because of them. For example, the market works are not even completed on the first planned date that the President wanted,” he said.

An amendment to the Decentralization Act came into force last September, authorizing the government to remove land and facilities from the jurisdiction of rural and city councils and place them under the state for the purpose of implementing development projects.