Shareef nominated as UAE envoy; Irthisham to UK
President Muizzu on November 19 appointed Shareef as ambassador-at-large at the foreign ministry, in the ministerial rank.
President Mohamed Muizzu has nominated Mohammed Hussain Shareef as the Maldives' ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and Dr Irthisham Adam as the country's high commissioner to the UK.
The appointments were announced in Monday's parliament sitting.
A decision on the approval of Shareef and Irthisham will be taken after the committee completes its work and sends it to the parliament floor for voting.
President Muizzu on November 19 appointed Shareef as ambassador-at-large at the foreign ministry, in a ministerial rank.
Shareef has served the government in various posts and capacities over a long career spanning over two decades. The majority of that time was spent at the President’s Office where he held various positions and oversaw numerous departments, including presidential protocol, environmental affairs, economic affairs, press, strategic communications, and foreign relations. He had served as Chief Government Spokesman and Presidential Spokesperson, from 2005 to 2008. He was also the draftsperson to the President.
Shareef served as cabinet minister from 2012 to 2015. He was appointed to the post of Minister of Human Resources, Youth, and Sports, in 2012, and assumed the portfolio of Minister at the President’s Office in 2013. He also assumed temporary charge of numerous ministries, including Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Youth and Sports and Ministry of Health.
In 2016, Shareef was appointed as the Maldives Ambassador to Japan, with concurrent accreditation to the Republic of Korea, and the Philippines. In 2017, he was appointed as Ambassador of Maldives to Sri Lanka, with concurrent accreditation to the Russian Federation - a post he held until November 2018.
Irthisham served as the youth minister and health minister in the government of former President Abdulla Yameen.
She joined the Jumhooree Party (JP) in January 2019 and served as an advisor to its leader Gasim Ibrahim. She unsuccessfully contested the 2019 parliamentary election.
After the first round of the September presidential election, Irthisham rejoined PPM.
