President appoints 10 govt officials to PNC leadership

President Mohamed Muizzu has appointed 10 senior government officials to the leadership of the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) under powers granted to him as party president by the PNC’s governing rules.

The appointments were announced during an afternoon session of the PNC Congress at the Social Centre in Malé on Friday.

The session was held to formally assign responsibilities to officials elected to party positions during the congress and to the 10 members appointed by Muizzu.

PNC spokesperson Mohamed Firuzul Abdulla Hilmy said seven of the 10 appointees hold positions at ministerial level.

They are Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr Abdulla Muththalib, Health, Family and Welfare Minister Geela Ali and Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Mohamed Ameen.

The other four are President’s Office Chief of Staff Abdulla Fayaz, President’s Office Minister Abdulla Naseer, President’s Office Minister Mohamed Tholal and former PNC Vice-President Adam Shareef Umar, who is currently the Maldives Ambassador to Qatar.

Of the seven, Muththalib, Geela and Ameen currently serve in Muizzu’s Cabinet. Their appointments mean six members of the Cabinet are now part of the PNC leadership.

The other three Cabinet ministers in the party leadership were elected as PNC vice-presidents during the congress. They are Youth Empowerment, Sports and Fitness Minister Abdulla Rafiu, Fisheries, Agriculture and Ocean Resources Minister Ahmed Shiyam and Economic Development, Transport and Trade Minister Mohamed Saeed.

The remaining three officials appointed by Muizzu to the PNC leadership head state-owned institutions.

They are Housing Development Corporation Managing Director Ali Zuhair, Malé Group of Hospitals Chief Executive Officer Abdul Razzaq Haleem and FDC Managing Director Hamdan Shakeel.

The appointments were made as the PNC concluded elections and appointments to its leadership structure during its four-day congress.

Six vice-presidents were elected during the congress. Abdulla Rafiu received 968 votes, followed by Ahmed Shiyam with 964 votes, Nilandhoo MP Fathimath Saudha with 923 votes, Baarah MP Ibrahim Shujau with 862 votes, Mohamed Saeed with 833 votes and PNC Chief Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef with 780 votes.

The congress also elected members to the PNC Members’ Council, including seats designated for women and youth as well as general seats.

Those elected and appointed to the party leadership formally assumed their responsibilities during Friday’s session.