His Excellency
Mohamed Muizzu
މުޙައްމަދު މުޢިއްޒު
Official portrait, 2023
President of the Maldives
Assumed office
17 November 2023
Vice PresidentHussain Mohamed Latheef
Preceded byIbrahim Mohamed Solih
Mayor of Malé
In office
29 May 2021 – 17 November 2023[1]
DeputyAhmed Nareesh
Preceded byShifa Mohamed
Succeeded byAhmed Nareesh (interim)
Minister of Housing and Infrastructure
In office
21 May 2012 – 17 November 2018
PresidentMohammed Waheed Hassan
Abdulla Yameen
Preceded byHimself (as Minister of Housing and Environment)
Succeeded byMohamed Aslam
Minister of Housing and Environment
In office
19 February 2012 – 21 May 2012
PresidentMohammed Waheed Hassan
Succeeded byHimself (as Minister of Housing and Infrastructure)
Personal details
Born (1978-06-15) 15 June 1978
Malé, Maldives[2]
Political partyPeople's National Congress (since 2023)
Other political
affiliations
SpouseSajidha Mohamed[4]
Children3
ResidenceMuliaage[5]
Alma mater
Signature

Mohamed Muizzu (Dhivehi: މުޙައްމަދު މުޢިއްޒު; born 15 June 1978) is a Maldivian politician who is currently serving as president of the Maldives since 17 November 2023.[6]

He was a longtime Housing Minister and the serving Mayor of Malé before being nominated as the People's National Congress candidate for the 2023 presidential election, in which he defeated then-president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Educational background

Completing his Bachelor's and Master's degree in Structural Engineering at the University of London, he earned his PhD in Civil Engineering at the University of Leeds. His PhD is on "Thermal and time-dependent effects on monolithic reinforced concrete roof slab-wall joints" and was awarded in 2009. He has also attained Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from America’s Project Management Institute (PMI).[7][8]

Political career

Minister of Housing

In 2012, Muizzu assumed the role of Minister of Housing and Environment during the administration of President Waheed as a member of the Adhaalath Party (AP). He continued in this post after the 2013 Presidential Election under President Abdulla Yameen's administration. By this time Muizzu was a member of the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA), part of a coalition government. The Ministry of Housing and Environment was later restructured and renamed as the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure during his five-year term in office.

During this time, Muizzu oversaw several infrastructure projects including the Sinamalé Bridge. The bridge connected the capital city of Malé to the Velana International Airport on the island of Hulhulé, and is the first inter-island bridge in Maldivian history.[9]

The rest of his term as Minister saw further infrastructure projects completed, including the construction of numerous harbors, jetties, parks, mosques, public buildings, sporting facilities, and roads. Muizzu also oversaw the introduction of modern asphalt paving techniques on the streets of Malé,[10] and the implementation of new building and maintenance codes.

Progressive Party of Maldives

Following the 2018 presidential election, Muizzu left the MDA and joined the party of the outgoing president, the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).[3] In 2019, Muizzu was appointed the Vice-President and the head of the Elections Department of the then-opposition (PPM).

Mayor of Malé

In 2021, Muizzu was elected mayor of Malé defeating the candidate from the then-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party.[11]

President of the Maldives

Following the conviction of former president and opposition leader Abdulla Yameen for embezzlement, Muizzu was nominated as the presidential candidate for the People’s National Congress, part of the opposition coalition, with MP Hussain Mohamed Latheef as his running mate.[12] In the first round of the 2023 Maldivian presidential election, he received 46.06% of the vote, a plurality, and advanced to the second round on 30 September 2023.[13] He was elected president in the second round, winning 54.04% against the incumbent Solih's 46.04%.[13] Muizzu was sworn in as the new president on 17 November 2023.[14][15]

Muizzu's presidential campaign focused on reducing Indian influence in Maldivian affairs. Observers have described him as pro-China.[16][17][18]

In interviews prior to taking office, Muizzu has said that all Indian troops should leave the Maldives. As of 2021, the Maldivian Defence Ministry said about 75 Indian personnel were based in the country, operating aircraft given to the Maldives by India.[19] Muizzu has also pledged to release former President Yameen from prison.[18]

On 17 November 2023, Muizzu was sworn in as the 8th President of the Republic of Maldives; the fourth to be democratically elected.[20][21]

References

  1. ↑ "Pres-elect Dr. Muizzu resigns as Male' Mayor ahead of Swearing-In ceremony". Avas.mv. 17 November 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  2. ↑ "President Muizzu 'intro'". 29 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  3. 1 2 Rasheed, Lujine (25 September 2018). "Housing minister Muizzu shifts allegiance from MDA to PPM, to work with President Yameen". The Edition. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  4. ↑ "Dinner hosted by First lady and The President". The Presidents Office. 9 October 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  5. ↑ "President Muizzu to reside in own home during Muliaage renovation". 18 November 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  6. ↑ "Inauguration of the 8th President of Maldives Dr Mohamed Muizzu". 17 November 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  7. ↑ "Who studied here?". University of Leeds. University of Leeds. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  8. ↑ "President Dr Mohamed Muizzu". The President's Office. The President's Office. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  9. ↑ Rehan, Mohamed (12 July 2018). "Housing Minister announces official name of CMF bridge". Avas. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  10. ↑ "Tarring of Ring Road will be completed this month: Housing Minister". PSM News. 24 August 2018. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  11. ↑ "LCE 2020: MDP takes mayoral seats in 3 cities, PPM takes Male'". Sun. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  12. ↑ "2023 presidential election: PNC's candidate Muizzu leads polls". Sun. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  13. 1 2 "Presidential Election 2023 – Result Website". Elections Commission of Maldives. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  14. ↑ Masood, Mohamed Iyad (2 October 2023). "Preparations underway for Muizzu to be sworn in on November 17". Sun. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  15. ↑ "President-elect to be sworn in at 1645hrs on November 17". PSM News. 24 October 2023. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  16. ↑ Macan-Markar, Marwaan (1 October 2023). "Maldives' Muizzu marches to victory on anti-India drumbeat". Nikkei Asia. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  17. ↑ "Who is Mohamed Muizzu, Maldives's pro-China president-elect?". Al Jazeera. 1 October 2023. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  18. 1 2 "Pro-China candidate Mohamed Muizzu wins Maldives presidency, upending relationship with India". The Guardian. AFP. 1 October 2023. Archived from the original on 12 October 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  19. ↑ Ethirajan, Anbarasan (22 October 2022). "Mohamed Muizzu: The Maldives' new president wants India out". BBC News. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  20. ↑ "New Maldives president is sworn in and vows to remove Indian troops". AP News. 17 November 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  21. ↑ "Dr Mohamed Muizzu sworn in as the 8th President of the Maldives". The President's Office. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
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