The history of the Maldives is intertwined with the history of the broader Indian subcontinent and the surrounding regions,comprising the areas of South Asia and Indian Ocean. The modern nation is formed of 26 natural atolls,comprising 1194 islands. Historically,the Maldives has held strategic importance due to its location on the major marine routes of the Indian Ocean. The Maldives's nearest neighbors are the British Indian Ocean Territory,Sri Lanka and India. The United Kingdom,Sri Lanka,and some Indian kingdoms have had cultural and economic ties with the Maldives for centuries. In addition to these countries,Maldivians also traded with Aceh and many other kingdoms in what is today Indonesia and Malaysia. The Maldives provided the primary source of cowrie shells,which were then used as currency throughout Asia and parts of the East African coast. Most probably,Maldives were influenced by Kalingas of ancient India who were earliest sea traders to Sri Lanka and the Maldives from India,responsible for the spread of Buddhism. Stashes of Chinese crockery found buried in various locations in the Maldives also show that there was direct or indirect trade contact between China and the Maldives. In 1411 and 1430,the Chinese admiral Zheng He (鄭和) visited the Maldives. The Chinese also became the first country to establish a diplomatic office in the Maldives when the Chinese nationalist government based in Taipei opened an embassy in Maléin 1966. The Embassy of the People's Republic of China has since replaced this office.
The Maldivian Democratic Party is the first political party formed in the Republic of Maldives with a total membership of 50,980 individuals as of 28 July 2024.
Sumuvvul Ameer Mohamed Amin Dhoshimeynaa Kilegefaanu,popularly known as Mohamed Amin Didi,was a Maldivian politician who served as the first president of the Maldives and as the head of government between January 1,1953,and August 21,1953. Amin Didi was also the principal of Majeedhiyya School from 1946 to 1953.
Majeediyya School is the first Maldivian government school,located in Malé,Maldives. It only accepted boys until the introduction of Primary Education in 2010,which allowed girls to attend the school as well. The English medium is followed throughout all subjects,with the exception of Dhivehi and Islam.
Black Friday,August 13,2004,was the crackdown by the Maldivian National Security Service (NSS) —later Maldivian National Defence Force —on a peaceful protest in the capital city of Maldives,Malé. This unplanned and unorganized demonstration was the largest such protest in the country's history. Beginning on the evening of August 12,2004,the demonstration grew and continued until it was forcefully ended on the afternoon of August 13,2004. Protesters initially demanding the freeing of the pro-reformists arrested on the afternoon of August 12,2004. As the protest continued to grow,people demanded the resignation of president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom,who had been in power since 1978. What started as a peaceful demonstration ended after 22 hours,as the country's darkest day in recent history. Several people were severely injured as NSS personnel used riot batons and teargas on unarmed civilians.
Mohamed Nasheed GCSK,also known as Anni,is a Maldivian politician and activist who served as president of the Maldives from 2008 until his resignation in 2012. A founding member of the Maldivian Democratic Party,he subsequently served as the 19th speaker of the People's Majlis from May 2019 until his resignation in November 2023. He is the first democratically elected president of the Maldives and the only president to resign from office. He is currently a member of The Democrats.
The president of the Republic of Maldives is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Maldives and the commander-in-chief of the Maldives National Defence Force.
Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik is a Maldivian politician who served as president of the Maldives from 7 February 2012 to 17 November 2013,having succeeded to 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.
Qasim Ibrahim,also known as Burumaa Qasim,is a Maldivian politician,business magnate and philanthropist. As the chairman and founder of the Villa Group,he is one of the country's wealthiest businessmen,with a net worth of around MVR 18 billion.
The vice president of the Republic of Maldives is the second-highest official in the executive branch of the government of the Maldives,after the president of the Maldives,and ranks first in the presidential line of succession. The vice president is directly elected together with the president to a five-year term of office.
Mohamed Shihab is a Maldivian politician. He was the Speaker of the People's Majlis —the parliament of the Maldives and a member of the Jumhooree Party. He is a former senior member of Maldivian Democratic Party. He became the Speaker of Majlis on 12 August 2008,succeeding former Speaker Ahmed Zahir,and he served as the speaker until 28 May 2009.
The Cabinet of the Maldives is the most senior level of the executive branch of the Government of the Maldives. It is made up of the President,the Vice President,Attorney General and the Ministers.
Husnu Al Suood born in Meedhoo is a Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Maldives since 8 December 2019. He was the Attorney General of the Maldives from June 2009 to August 2010. He served as the Chief Judge of the Civil Court and as a member of the Judicial Service Commission of Maldives. He also served as a member of the National Human Rights Commission of the Maldives from 2003 to 2005. As a member of the Special Majlis,Suood participated in drafting the current constitution of the Republic of Maldives.
Abdul Majeed Mahir was a Maldivian politician,born in Fuvahmulah to Funaadu Ganduvaru Aisha Didi of Fuvahmulah and Velaanaagey Mohamed Didi of Malé,Maldives. He served in high government posts during his nephew Ibrahim Nasir's presidency,such as the position of Deputy Minister of Finance and the position of Deputy Minister of Peace and Security according to some sources. He also served as the President of MaléMunicipality from 1960 to 1961 and served in the Management of MWSC during Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's presidency.
Mariya Didi is a Maldivian barrister and politician who served as the Minister of Defense of the Maldives. After being the campaign manager for president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih during the 2018 elections,she was appointed the nation's first-ever female Minister of Defence.
The Ministry of Homeland Security &Technology,sometimes called as the Ministry of Home Affairs is part of the Maldivian Executive branch responsible for maintaining law and order in the Maldives at the national level. It was introduced in 1932 after the Maldivian independence under president Ibrahim Nasir,the second president of Maldives.
Maldivian presidential assassination attempts have been numerous,ranging from the early twentieth century since the establishment of the first republic of the Maldives. In 1980,President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was first Maldivian president to experience an assassination attempt,when three attempts were made to overthrow Maumoon's government and assassinate the president.
Ameena Mohamed Amin was a Maldivian parliamentarian who is the daughter of former president,Mohamed Amin Didi,and former poet,Fathimath Saeed.
