President affirms govt impartiality in Addu jurisdiction referendum

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has affirmed that the Government will remain impartial in the upcoming referendum concerning the jurisdiction of Addu City’s Feydhoo, Hulhudhoo, and Meedhoo constituencies.

In a post on his official X account on Sunday, the President underlined that the Government has no preferred outcome in the referendum, scheduled for October, and reiterated that the Administration would fully respect and implement the decision of the people.

Earlier on Sunday, the Cabinet approved administrative measures to facilitate the referendum, following a petition submitted by residents seeking changes to the composition of the Addu City Council.

The referendum will decide whether separate councils should be established for Addu Feydhoo, Addu Hulhudhoo, and Addu Meedhoo, or whether a single Addu Hulhumeedhoo Council should be formed to administer both Addu Hulhudhoo and Addu Meedhoo. All registered voters in the constituency will be eligible to take part in the vote.

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.