Azeema receives Parliament’s backing for appointment as top envoy to India

The Parliament has voted in favor of appointing Aishath Azeema to replace Ibrahim Shaheeb as the top Maldivian envoy to India.

The letter by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu seeking parliamentary approval for the appointment was read at the Parliament and sent to the Foreign Relations Committee for review on October 14. The committee decided to forego interviewing her citing her qualifications and experience, and approved the appointment the next day.

The Parliament took a floor vote on Azeema’s appointment on Monday afternoon.

She received the backing of the Parliament with a unanimous vote of 79.

Azeema joined the foreign service in 1988. She served as the Maldivian ambassador to China from June 2019 to September 2023. She also previously served as deputy ambassador of the Maldives to the UK, and in various senior capacities in the Foreign Ministry, including as an additional secretary and joint secretary.

She is set to replace Shaheeb, who was appointed as the ambassador to India on October 10, 2022.

The move to appoint a new ambassador to New Delhi comes as the Maldives seeks to repair and reinforce its ties with India – one of the country’s closest bilateral partners.