Abdulla Yameen takes over as President of the Maldives; Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed takes over as Vice President of the Maldives; President appoints five ministers to his cabinet; India, US congratulate President Yameen; CMAG removed Maldives from its formal
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    • (NOVEMBER 11-17)

    Reports noted that Abdulla Yameen from Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has won the second round of the Maldives 2013 presidential election with a difference of 6871 votes against Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) candidate, former president Mohamed Nasheed. Abdulla Yameen received 111,203 votes, 51.39 percent and MDP candidate Mohamed Nasheed 105,181 votes, 48.61 percent. President Yameen took an oath of office on November 17. Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed has also taken oath as the Vice President of the Republic of Maldives. The oath was administered by Chief Justice Ahmed Faiz Hussain.1 At a ceremony at President’s Office on 17th night itself, President appointed five ministers to his cabinet: Abdulla Jihad was appointed as Minister of Finance, Colonel (Rtd.) Mohamed Nazim as Minister of Defence, Ahmed Adheeb as Minister of Tourism, Dhunya Maumoon as Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Ameen Ibrahim as Minister of Transport. 2

    Meanwhile, reports noted that the government of India has extended congratulations to the Maldives’ President-elect Abdulla Yameen. 3 The United States Embassy has also extended congratulations to the newly elected President of Maldives. 4

    In other developments, according to reports, earlier the international community, including the Commonwealth, the United Nations, EU and India expressed deep concern over the delayed presidential election in the Maldives, especially with regard to the delay in the second round of the re-run of the presidential election past the constitutional deadline of the presidential term. The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) placed Maldives on its formal agenda. However, the CMAG has removed Maldives from its formal agenda, following the inauguration of the new President, Abdulla Yameen. 5

    Reports noted that the Maldives has been re-elected to the UN Human Rights Council for a second term for the period of 2014-16. 6

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