The Government has announced plans to hold a public referendum in Addu City later this month to determine the will of its citizens on proposed changes to the existing council structure. The decision was made by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s Cabinet, following a submission from several Addu City residents calling for a review of local governance arrangements.
According to the Cabinet decision, the referendum—conducted under Law No. 2025/15 (Public Referendum Act)—will seek residents’ views on whether separate councils should be established for Addu Feydhoo, Addu Hulhudhoo, and Addu Meedhoo. Voters will also decide whether Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo should instead form a joint administrative body known as the Addu Hulhumeedhoo Council.
The public vote, open to all registered voters from the respective islands, is scheduled to take place on one of the weekend days of October 24 or 25.
To ensure a transparent and informed process, the Cabinet has also mandated the formation of a ministerial-level committee led by the Ministry of Home Affairs, supported by a technical team with deep familiarity with Addu’s administrative and geographic context. The team will assess and recommend potential adjustments to Addu City’s jurisdictional boundaries that may arise based on the outcome of the vote.
The initiative reflects President Muizzu’s commitment to strengthening decentralized governance and ensuring that structural changes to local councils are guided directly by the will of the people, marking a milestone in participatory democracy for the southern atoll city.
