Presidency of Abdulla Yameen
 | |
| Presidency of Abdulla Yameen 17 November 2013 – 17 November 2018 | |
| Cabinet | Cabinet of Abdulla Yameen |
|---|---|
| Party | Progressive Party of Maldives |
| Election | 2013 |
| Seat | The President's Office |
|
| |
Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's tenure as the 6th President of the Maldives began on 17 November 2013 after he won the 2013 Maldivian presidential election against then-President Mohamed Waheed Hassan and ended on 17 November 2018 after he lost to Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the 2018 Maldivian presidential election.
During Yameen's presidency, there have been major infrastructure projects as well as alleged human rights infringements.
2013 elections
[edit]Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) elected Abdulla Yameen as their candidate for the 2013 election, which had gone through many delays.[1] He received 61,278 votes in the first round and 111,203 in the second round, becoming the new president.[2]
Presidency
[edit]Abdulla Yameen's presidency started off strong as in 2015, the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge (Sinamalé Bridge) started being built and was inaugurated in August 2018.[3][4]
The Hulhumalé district was also being renovated by Yameen and land reclamation started for the new Phase II section. Yameen also started a new housing flat scheme called "Hiyaa" to provide sheltering for 100,000 people.[5]
Yameen along with then-Housing Minister Mohamed Muizzu constructed a tertiary hospital in Addu City to ensure better healthcare.[6]
Yameen also built a skyscraper hospital, named Dharumavantha Hospital, having 25 story's.[7]
It was revealed in an investigation titled "Stealing Paradise" by Al Jazeera, it was revealed that senior government officials including Yameen's then-VP Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Ghafoor was stealing funds from MMPRC. It also led to the conviction of Yameen after his presidency ended in 2018.[8]
Assassination attempt
[edit]In September 2015, an explosion took place on Yameen's presidential yacht 'Finifenmaa' which was carrying Yameen, Fathimath Ibrahim, top government officials from Hulhulé.[9][10] The explosion injured his wife, a presidential aide, and a bodyguard.[11]
Allegations of violating Human Rights
[edit]In 2014, Ahmed Rilwan, a journalist and reporter, was kidnapped by a group of religious extremists and was beheaded and dropped off a boat into the water.[12] It's believed that people working in the government were involved including then-VP Adeeb.[13]
In 2016, the Maldives left the Commonwealth of Nations after alleged human rights abuses where the government said that they were treated "unjustly and unfairly."[14]
In 2017, Yameen Rasheed, a blogger known for his satirical commentaries on Maldivian politicians and religious extremists was found dead with 34 stab wounds, he previously received death threats but the police did nothing.[15][16]
State of emergency
[edit]Abdulla Yameen declared a State of emergency where Police forces detained and arrested high-profile politicians and judges such as, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed, Ali Hameed Mohamed.[17][18] Police forces also broke into the Supreme Court.[18]
References
[edit]- ^ Powell, Luke (30 March 2013). "Yameen elected as PPM presidential candidate". Minivan News. Archived from the original on 25 October 2013.
- ^ "Presidential Election 2013". Elections Commission (Maldives). Archived from the original on 22 July 2023.
- ^ ""China-Maldives Friendship Bridge" project launched". Maldives Independent. 31 December 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ Zalif, Zunana (30 August 2018). "President Yameen inaugurates Sinamale Bridge". Raajje TV. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ Rehan, Mohamed (19 November 2017). "Govt. grand housing scheme to shelter 100K citizens". Avas. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ Afrah, Mohamed (22 October 2017). "Addu tertiary hospital will be opened by President Yameen in June 2018 : Dr.Muizzu !". Miadhu Daily. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ Rehan, Mohamed (26 February 2018). "'Skyscraper' hospital draws close to completion". Avas. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ Panda, Ankit (7 February 2019). "Former Maldives President Charged With Corruption, Money-Laundering". The Diplomat. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ "Explosion on president's speedboat, President Yameen unharmed". Maldives Independent. 28 September 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ "Maldives president unhurt in boat blast on return from Hajj". BBC News. 28 September 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ "First Lady, injured in boat blast, released from hospital". Maldives Independent. 7 November 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ ""An All-Out Assault on Democracy": Crushing Dissent in the Maldives". Human Rights Watch. 16 August 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ Jalyl, Raif Amyl (12 June 2019). "Adeeb questioned over Rilwan, Afrasheem case: Commission". The Edition. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ Safi, Michael (13 October 2016). "Maldives quits Commonwealth over alleged rights abuses". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ "Maldives: New Government Must Break with Repressive Past". Amnesty International. 25 September 2018. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
- ^ Safi, Micheal (23 April 2017). "Maldives blogger stabbed to death in capital". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
- ^ "President declares State of Emergency". The President's Office. 5 February 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ a b "Live blog: Maldives State of Emergency". Maldives Independent. 6 February 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2024.