Didn't mind Abdul Raheem, Shyam leaving me: Yameen
Following Yameen’s departure from the PPM-PNC coalition amid internal conflict, he has continued to criticise the leadership of the current government.
Former President Abdulla Yameen has expressed disappointment over statements made by Defence Minister Ghassan Maumoon and Local Government Minister Adam Shareef during the 2023 presidential election campaign. He stated that while he did not give much weight to comments made by Parliament Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla and Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam, he was particularly disheartened by the remarks from Ghassan and Shareef.
Both Ghassan and Shareef held senior positions during Yameen’s presidency.
Ghassan, a former member of parliament, currently serves as Defence Minister in the current administration.
Adam Shareef, now the Minister of Cities and Local Government, also served as Defence Minister during Yameen’s term and was actively involved in party affairs. He had also contested the People’s National Congress (PNC) presidential primary against President Mohamed Muizzu.
Yameen made his comments at a People’s National Front (PNF) rally, where a video was shown featuring past remarks by senior PPM-PNC leaders during a press conference held while Yameen was incarcerated. At the time, Ghassan, Shareef, and Muizzu had all declared their support for Yameen as the party’s presidential candidate.
Yameen said he had expected loyalty from both ministers, particularly given their past affiliations and roles. He noted that Ghassan was a family member and had been considered a close ally. Of Adam Shareef, he said their political relationship had been longstanding and cooperative since his presidency.
“A little farther than Ghassan, but I am very, very disappointed that Adam Shareef said this,” Yameen said. “Adam Shareef was the Defence Minister when he was appointed and I did all these things.”
He criticised both for what he viewed as unacceptable actions and statements, adding that they had prior knowledge of the legal barriers that eventually prevented him from contesting the 2023 presidential election.
Yameen described other party leaders, such as Abdul Raheem Abdulla and Ahmed Shiyam, as politicians, indicating he did not expect the same level of personal loyalty from them.
At the pre-election press conference, senior figures including Muizzu, Abdul Raheem, Ghassan, and Shareef had all publicly expressed support for Yameen. Ghassan had stated that he would stand behind Yameen both then and in the future.
“I intend to follow the path he showed me,” Ghassan had said at the time.
Adam Shareef had similarly pledged loyalty, saying he would “be where President Yameen has put me” and that he would act on Yameen’s instructions even if the former president could not contest the election.
Following Yameen’s departure from the PPM-PNC coalition amid internal conflict, he has continued to criticise the leadership of the current government.
