45-659: Upper South Province was one of the seven short-lived provinces of the Maldives . The provinces were created in a decentralization attempt by the Nasheed administration in 2008. It was governed by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Ms. Thilmeeza Hussain. Rejecting this change, the Parliament saw the abolition of the province system in 2010, through a newly enacted Decentralization Act . It consisted of Laamu and Thaa Atolls. Its capital
90-402: A capital island. All islands of every atoll have their own official name. All cities have an official name, and names for their subdivisions. They also have a Latin code letter assigned to them. Traditionally, Maldivians call the atolls ending in '-madulu' or '-mathi' by their name without adding the word 'Atoll' at the end. For example, it is correct to write simply Kolhumadulu , without adding
135-417: A citizen of the island. As of May 2013 , the island council election for Felivaru has yet to take place. The first-level divisions are cities and atolls. A city is an inhabited area with a population of 10,000+. The criteria also includes a certain level of economic development and facilities available. A city has a "city council" which governs over the affairs of the city, and keeps communication with
180-506: A coup d'état had occurred, however these claims were proved to be false by an independent report from the Commission of National Inquiry. Nasheed initially accepted this report "with reservations", but later refuted it in its entirety. His short tenure in office is regarded as one of the most turbulent periods in Maldivian history. Waheed was subjected to racial abuse during his presidency and
225-664: A diploma in teaching. By 1976, President Waheed returned home to the Maldives, and took up a post teaching the Language at Jamaaludheen School in Male' (the capital of the Maldives). President Waheed taught many students who would become highly influential members of Maldivian society both in the Government, as well as in the private sector. Among his students is the popular television comedian Yoosuf Rafeeu (commonly known as Yoosay), along with members of
270-515: A few islands and isolated reefs which form a pattern from North to South. Administratively, there are currently 189 islands, 18 atolls and 4 cities in the Maldives . During the presidency of Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom , the administrative divisions consisted of 20 administrative atolls, all controlled by the central government in Malé . In 2008, in an attempt of decentralization , the Nasheed government divided
315-626: A member of the National Council for Dhivehi Language and Literature, a member of the Atolls Development Advisory board, and a member for the Maldives Youth council. After completing his education, he returned and stood for Parliament. In 1989, Waheed ran against Gayoom's brother-in-law, Ilyas Ibrahim . Despite this opposition, Waheed won the seat. It is believed and confirmed by other children of his mother Aishath Moosa that she
360-550: A more militant approach, Waheed returned to the UN, performing short-term assignments. During his time in UNICEF, Waheed was the head of UNICEF South Asia, Afghanistan, Yemen, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Turkmenistan. After his career in the United Nations, Waheed returned to the Maldives once again to stand for the leadership of the newly formed Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). Waheed lost
405-508: A number of individuals, including Waheed's own brother, Naushad Waheed , accused Mohammed Waheed of complicity in the alleged coup. Waheed was also criticised both by Nasheeds party and several Human Rights organizations and by the international community for several human rights violations that occurred on the 8th of February following clashes between Nasheed's supporters and the Maldives Police. Waheed and his supporters, however, state that
450-464: A special session of the People's Majlis at Dharubaaruge. Waheed was inaugurated as the nation's first democratically elected vice president, the first to serve in the post when it was reinstated after over 50 years. On 7 February 2012, Waheed assumed the presidency following the disputed resignation of President Nasheed, who asserted that he was forced to resign at gunpoint in a coup d'état . A week later,
495-487: A thorough investigation so as to prevent any vote rigging in the run off. On 24 September 2013 the Supreme Court injunction signed by the majority of four judges of the seven-judge bench asked the commission and relevant state institutions to delay the runoff until the court rules on the case filed by Jumhoory Party (JP) seeking annulment of the first round results alleging vote rigging. Waheed announced his withdrawal from
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#1732858386535540-625: A unity cabinet, but this offer was rejected by Nasheed's supporters. On 19 February, Waheed appointed Gayoom's daughter Dhunya Maumoon a State Minister, prompting a new round of criticism, but also appointed Shaheem Ali Saeed, who is "considered progressive". In the weeks following the alleged coup, Nasheed requested that the Commonwealth of Nations threaten the Maldives with expulsion unless new elections are held. The Commonwealth has supported Nasheed's call for early elections, calling on both Nasheed and Waheed to enter talks to arrange new polls before
585-590: Is the oldest person to have been sworn into the office of President , having been sworn in at the age of 59. Waheed was born to Hassan Ibrahim Maniku and Aishath Moosa. He was the first of ten children. President Waheed attended the American University of Beirut for four years, studying for two of those years in the midst of the Lebanese civil war ; completing a bachelor's degree in English Language as well as
630-478: The Commission’s findings are as follows: On 7 September 2013, Waheed stood as a candidate for the presidency of the Maldives. In his first independent bid for elected office, Waheed was routed in the four-way race which pitted him against three other candidates, amongst them, frontrunner and former president Mohamed Nasheed. Nasheed finished in first place with 45.45% of all valid ballots cast (95,224 votes). Nasheed
675-473: The Decentralization Act. It listed 189 administrative constituencies. Out of these constituencies: Therefore, the final organization of the administrative divisions are as below: Although the earlier provincial decentralization was rejected by Parliament, President Nasheed reinstated the concept through "National Administrations". The National Administrations of Maldives were in the same divisions as
720-415: The Maldives refers to the various units of government that provide local government services in the Maldives . According to the Decentralization Act 2010, the administrative divisions of the Maldives would consist of atolls, islands, and cities; each administered by their own local council , under the basic terms of home rule . Geographically, the Maldives are formed by a number of natural atolls plus
765-408: The actual meaning of the word ' atoll '. While naturally, an "atoll" refers to a ring of islands, an "atoll" in the administrative sense, refers to a group of "island" class constituencies, not necessarily within the requirements of a natural atoll. While the majority of administrative atolls are indeed natural atolls, there are exceptions. Each administrative atoll has an "atoll council" which monitors
810-423: The administrative sense, refers to a specified inhabited area within an administrative atoll, which is governed over by an "island council". While the majority of "island" class constituencies are indeed natural islands. There are 189 such islands, each with its own island council. (Except for Felivaru , Lhaviyani Atoll ) Every first-level administrative division of the Maldives have the following: Each atoll has
855-401: The atolls grouped within: The seven provinces closely correspond to the historic divisions of Uthuru Boduthiladhunmathi . Dhekunu Boduthiladhunmathi , Uthuru Medhu-Raajje , Medhu-Raajje , Dhekunu Medhu-Raajje , Huvadhu ( Suvadive, Suvaidu or Suvadiva ) and Addumulah . On 15 October 2010, the government released a finalized list of the administrative constituencies established under
900-601: The beginning of September. However, when the election date was announced in early October, GIP formed a coalition with the Maldivian Democratic Party, after being approached by the two other main opposition groups: the New Maldives Movement and the Jumhooree Party . Though Waheed was asked to become the vice presidential candidate for both the other parties, Gaumee Itthihaad chose to form an alliance with
945-455: The building when they tried to physically assault Waheed during his speech. Waheed responded with a speech calling for national unity. Mohamed Nasheed initially claimed that a coup d'état had occurred, however these claims were proven false by an independent report from the Commission of National Inquiry (CoNI). Nasheed initially accepted this report "with reservations", but later refuted it in its entirety. The Commission of National Inquiry
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#1732858386535990-408: The central government. A city will not be included within an administrative atoll. A city has further subdivisions called "wards" or "districts". A city council will also govern over any uninhabited islands or resort islands within its designated area. There are four cities in Maldives. They are Male' , Addu , Fuvahmulah and Kulhudhuffushi . The administrative definition of an "atoll" differs from
1035-413: The country into seven provinces. According to this system, the bill submitted by the government to decentralize the country was passed with the support of opposition-majority parliament , with their amendments to the bill. The final bill passed in 2010 by the parliament and ratified by the president saw the country's decentralisation as 21 constituencies. The seven provinces were the following, followed by
1080-549: The earlier provinces, and the previous province offices were reinstated as the office of that National Administration, to which the atoll councils reported to accordingly. The National Administrations acted as an extension of the central government in Male' for the convenience of dealing with regional affairs. The National Administrations operated under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The seven National Administrations were:- Each administration
1125-473: The government such as the former Speaker of the Parliament, and current Foreign Minister, Abdulla Shahid . President Waheed also taught many senior civil servants such as the current Elections Commissioner and the Minister for Presidential Affairs Mohammed Hussein. During this time, President Waheed also helped develop the first English language curriculum in Maldivian schools. By September 1976, President Waheed
1170-552: The largest opposition party, Maldivian Democratic Party, only days before the deadline for the submission of the candidates names. Mohamed Nasheed who was elected as the presidential candidate of MDP chose Waheed as his running mate in the October 2008 presidential election . This was the first democratic election in the history of the country and ended Gayoom's 30-year reign. After they won the election, Nasheed and his vice presidential candidate, Waheed, were sworn in on 11 November 2008, in
1215-620: The law enforcement agencies’ fully backing me.’ Waheed left Maldives in 1992, and he took a job with UNICEF , working in Tanzania and then Bangladesh. He would later be transferred to the UN Headquarters in New York and made a senior advisor coordinating global policy for UNICEF . In 2001, he was transferred to UNICEF South Asia based in Kathmandu, Nepal, where he headed programs for the region. He
1260-435: The leadership election by a narrow margin. Waheed had given up his position in UNICEF. In 2006, after his work with MDP, he took up a consultancy position. In June 2008, Waheed returned to the Maldives and formed his own political party. Later on, most of his party members, including all the senior figures, reverted to MDP: Gaumee Itthihaad . Waheed was chosen as the presidential candidate of Gaumee Itthihaad Party (GIP) in
1305-547: The nation. The other member [nominated by Nasheed] was not at all times willing or able to act independently and resigned the evening before this report was submitted and published... Without any justification, [he] created discord and mistrust in a community which desperately needs reconciliation.” The CoNI Report concluded that "in sum, the Commission concludes that there was no illegal coercion or intimidation nor any coup d’état. The Commission has received no evidence supporting or to substantiate these allegations." "In summary,
1350-518: The office following the resignation of President Mohamed Nasheed , under whom he served as Vice President . He had previously worked as a news anchor, a teacher, a principle, a United Nations international civil servant with UNICEF , UNDP and UNESCO , and as member of the Maldivian Parliament. He assumed the office of president on 7 February 2012, following the resignation of the incumbent, Mohamed Nasheed . Initially, Nasheed claimed that
1395-551: The opportunity to remain in the United States, he elected to return home, giving up his job as a project manager of a technology firm, in San Francisco. On his return to Maldives from San Francisco (at the end of 1988), he became the director of educational services in the Ministry of Education. He was placed in charge of the Ministry for several months until a new Education Minister was appointed. During this time he also served as
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1440-435: The transfer of power was voluntary and constitutional, and have agreed to launch an independent review of the events surrounding Nasheed's resignation. BBC News reported that Waheed's subsequent appointment of several ministers associated with the former president Gayoom "raised eyebrows", and that "most believe other forces were at play" behind the protests that chased Nasheed from office. On 11 February, Waheed offered
1485-407: The word 'Atholhu' or 'Atoll'. This is also the case in the atoll known as Faadhippolhu as well as the small detached atoll of Fuvahmulah . Mohamed Waheed Hassan Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik ( Dhivehi : ޑރ. މުޙައްމަދު ވަޙީދު ޙަސަން މަނިކު ; born 3 January 1953) is a Maldivian politician who served as president of the Maldives from 7 February 2012 to 17 November 2013, having succeeded to
1530-411: The work of the "island councils" in the atoll, and keep communications with the central government. An atoll council also governs all uninhabited islands and resort islands in their area. There are 18 atolls in Maldives. The administrative definition of an "island" differs from the actual meaning of the word ' island '. While naturally, an "island" refers to a land-mass surrounded by water, an "island" in
1575-469: The year's end. Waheed said that early elections could be possible, but that "the conditions have to be right to ensure there will be free and fair elections". On 1 March 2012, Waheed was blocked from opening the Maldivian Parliament by Nasheed, who accused him of breaking a promise to set a date for a new election. On 19 March, he attempted to open parliament again and was once more blocked by Nasheed pro parliamentarians. Four opposition MPs were removed from
1620-550: Was Thinadhoo . Its population (2006 census) was 19,275. Provinces of the Maldives Vice President of the Maldives Hussain Mohamed Latheef People's Majlis Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim Presidential elections Parliamentary Elections Referendums Others Minister Moosa Zameer The Administrative Divisions of
1665-463: Was actively involved in the entire process of the report from investigation to drafting, but resigned on 29 August 2012, the day before the CoNI Report was published. Speaking on his resignation, the two advisors - representatives of the United Nations and Commonwealth stated that “Four of the five members [of CoNI] acted with independence and integrity in carrying out the important task for the future of
1710-399: Was branded a traitor by the supporters of his former ally Mohamed Nasheed . Waheed was defeated in the 2013 election , having received only a little over 5% of the vote. Amid controversy over vote tampering and following a police investigation, the results of that election were later annulled by the Supreme Court of the Maldives, after which Waheed chose not to stand for re-election. Waheed
1755-510: Was constituted on the 21st of February 2012 and published its report on the 30th of August 2012. The CoNI was composed of 5 members and two advisors, including representatives of the United Nations and Commonwealth . Former Supreme Court Justice of Singapore G.P. Selvam was nominated by the Commonwealth to head the Commission. The CoNI's 5 Members also included a representative of Nasheed who
1800-531: Was granted a full scholarship to attend Stanford University in the United States . After completing his master's degree in education Planning in 1979, he returned home to the Maldives in order to begin working for the Ministry of Education. Subsequently, he completed his PhD in 1986, also at Stanford University , after which he remained in the United States for two more years due to the necessity of his newly born son to receive medical treatment. And although he had
1845-573: Was headed by a state minister assigned by the president . All 7 National Offices were abolished by the Waheed administration on 24 April 2012. On 5 February 2011, the country's first ever Local council elections were held to elect 188 island councils, 19 atoll councils and 2 city councils. The island of Felivaru , in Lhaviyani Atoll did not participate in the election, since being a newly declared inhabited island, did not have any person registered as
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1890-531: Was later made the head of UNICEF Afghanistan. Soon, Waheed was asked to return to New York, where he was the UNICEF representative and the Associate Director to the UNDCO . Due to political developments in the Maldives, Waheed retired from the UN, and returned home to try to play a role in bringing democracy to the country. However, as his resources depleted, and as he felt the main opposition party began to favor
1935-439: Was subjected to torture during Maumoon Abdul Gayoom ’s tenure and later passed away from her injuries while her son Naushad Waheed was in prison. He was not allowed to attend her funeral. Waheed claims to be the first citizen of the Maldives to receive a PhD, having received it at Stanford University in the U.S., and the first person to appear on Maldivian Television. However, there are several who disputed this claim. Waheed
1980-475: Was the first Maldivian Vice President to have fully succeeded to presidency, when President Mohamed Nasheed resigned after a mutiny, until November 2013. Soon after taking office during his first press conference, he infamously asked, ‘Do I look like a man who would stage a coup d’état?’. Although, he vehemently denies being part of a coup, during a press conference he revealed, ’I have proud political parties in this country who are backing me. And then I have all
2025-493: Was trailed by Abdullah Yameen who received 25.40% of the vote share (53,099), Gasim Ibrahim of the Jumhooree Party who received 24.02% of all votes (50,422), and Waheed with only 5.13% of the votes (10,750). The fairness of the results of the 2013 elections has been challenged in the Supreme Court. Various reports suggest duplicates, names of deceased and underaged in the official voter list. Political leaders are insisting on
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