In a sweeping political development, nine senior ministers in the administration of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu resigned on Tuesday, marking one of the most significant cabinet shake-ups in recent Maldivian governance.
The President’s Office confirmed that the resignations were formally submitted and accepted, although no official reasons have been disclosed.
However, sources closely working with the President have confirmed that the ministers were asked to resign as part of an ongoing government restructuring effort.
Those stepping down include:
- Dr. Abdulla Khaleel, Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon, Minister of Defence
- Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, Minister of Health
- Dr. Aishath Shiham, Minister of Social and Family Development
- Adam Shareef, Minister of Cities, Local Government and Public Works
- Dr. Mariyam Mariya, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Welfare
- Ibrahim Waheed (Asward), Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts
- Thoriq Ibrahim, Minister of Tourism and Environment
- Dr. Ali Haidar Ahmed, Minister of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development
The mass resignation affects nearly half of the 20-member cabinet, signaling a major restructuring effort within the government.
The development follows earlier remarks by President Muizzu indicating that structural reforms would be undertaken in response to the outcome of the recent local council elections held on April 4. The ruling administration faced electoral setbacks in several key urban councils, prompting expectations of internal changes.
This latest move also comes amid a broader wave of leadership shifts across state-owned enterprises, where multiple Managing Directors have either stepped down or been removed over the past week.
While the government has yet to formally outline the scope of the reforms, the scale and timing of the resignations suggest a coordinated effort to recalibrate governance, strengthen institutional performance, and align the administration with its evolving policy priorities.
