Addu council structure referendum scheduled for October
The Cabinet decided that the referendum will be held either on the 24th or 25th of this month.
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The referendum to decide whether to change the composition of the Addu City Council will take place later this month.
According to the President’s Office, the Cabinet decision follows a complaint submitted by several residents of Addu requesting changes to the structure of the city council.
President Mohamed Muizzu announced on his Rayyithunna Eku podcast on the 17th of last month that he intended to hold a public referendum to determine whether the people of Addu support the idea of having a single city council.
The President’s Office stated that the Cabinet meeting held on Sunday decided to make the necessary arrangements for the referendum.
The Cabinet resolved to:
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Conduct a general referendum among the people of Hulhudhoo, Meedhoo, and Feydhoo in Addu to determine whether they wish to form councils under the names Addu Hulhudhoo Council, Addu Meedhoo Council, and Addu Feydhoo Council.
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Assess whether it is suitable to form a single council to manage two or more islands jointly.
The Cabinet decided that the referendum will be held either on the 24th or 25th of this month.
Before the referendum, a team from the Ministry of Local Government will begin work on defining the jurisdiction of the islands in Addu.
Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo, which are separate from the connected islands of Addu, have previously raised the issue of forming their own island councils.
At present, Addu City is administered under a single city council.
Addu Mayor Ali Nizam Hassan said President Mohamed Muizzu is attempting to “break apart Addu” by creating separate councils instead of continuing with a unified city council, adding that the President has failed to deliver on his promises to Addu.
