Maldives president appoints new cabinet after mass ministerial resignations

President Mohamed Muizzu on Tuesday evening appointed a new cabinet after 10 ministers resigned earlier in the day, in a move that followed a wider reshuffle within the government.

The new cabinet includes Moosa Zameer as Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises, Ali Ihusaan as Minister of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology, Iruthishaam Adam as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Ismail Shafeeu as Minister of Education, Higher Education and Skills Development, Geela Ali as Minister of Health, Family and Welfare, Mohamed Saeed as Minister of Economic Development, Transport and Trade, Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed as Minister of Islamic Affairs and Endowment, Mohamed Ameen as Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Abdulla Rafiu as Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Fitness, Heena Waleed as Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage, Dr Abdulla Muththalib as Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, and Ali Shareef as Minister of Climate Change, Environment and Energy.

Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources Ahmed Shiyam and Attorney General Ahmed Usham also remain in the cabinet. They did not take the oath of office on Tuesday as there were no changes to their respective mandates.

Several of those appointed were already serving in cabinet and have either retained office or taken on expanded portfolios. Zameer has been serving as finance minister and had previously also held the foreign affairs portfolio in the current administration. Mohamed Saeed remains in charge of the economic portfolio, with transport and trade now falling under the same ministry. Ali Ihusaan continues in the security portfolio, with labour and technology added to his mandate. Dr Ismail Shafeeu also remains in cabinet, now heading a combined ministry overseeing education, higher education and skills development.

Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed continues to head the Islamic affairs portfolio. Mohamed Ameen has been given charge of tourism and civil aviation, while Abdulla Rafiu continues in the youth and sports sector under an expanded ministry title. Dr Abdulla Muththalib remains responsible for infrastructure, housing and urban development.

Among the ministers appointed to new roles are Iruthishaam Adam, who takes over as foreign minister, Geela Ali as minister of health, family and welfare, Heena Waleed as minister of arts, culture and heritage, and Ali Shareef as minister of climate change, environment and energy.

Earlier on Tuesday, 10 ministers resigned from cabinet. The resignations came amid government changes following the recent local council elections.