List of presidents of the Maldives

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Mohamed Muizzu, President of the Maldives since 2023 Dr Mohamed Muizzu portrait.jpg
Mohamed Muizzu, President of the Maldives since 2023

The President of the Maldives is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Maldives. The President is directly elected by the citizens of the country through a popular vote for a five-year term. [1] The President serves as the commander-in-chief of the Maldives National Defence Force and leads the cabinet of the Maldives. [2] [3] The powers of the President are derived from the latest constitution implemented in 2008. [4]

Contents

During the early republic, executive authority in the Maldives was split between the President and the Prime Minister of the Maldives. The President served as the head of state while the Prime Minister served as the head of government. [5] A constitutional amendment in the 1942 constitution transferred executive power of the country to the Ministry of Home Affairs, effectively making the Minister of Home Affairs the head of government. [5] In 1951, the constitution was amended to revert the earlier amendment which now made the Prime Minister the head of government. [5] The role of Prime Minister during the republic was held by Ahmed Zaki from 1972 until its abolition in 1975 by President Ibrahim Nasir. [6] The position was abolished because of abuses of the office. [7]

The nation was previously a sultanate run by Sultans before a constitutional referendum was held in 1952 to change the governance to a democracy. [8] The First Republic of the Maldives was declared on 1 January 1953; the republic was abolished eight months later on 21 August 1953, when President Mohamed Amin Didi was beaten to death. [9] After he died of his injuries, he was succeeded by then-Vice President of the Maldives, Ibrahim Muhammad Didi, as acting President. [9] The monarchy was restored in another constitutional referendum the same year. [10] Another constitutional referendum was held in 1968 to return to a presidential republic was supported and implemented. [11] Since the declaration of the second republic in 1968, there have been seven Presidents as of October 2025. [12]

A short-lived breakaway state called the United Suvadive Republic (1959–1963) was declared by the southern atolls of the Maldives (Addu, Fuvahmulah, and Huvadhu) due to discontent with the central government in Malé. [13] [14] Its first and last President was Abdullah Afeef who served until its creation to its abolition. [13]

Since 1968, two Presidents (Ibrahim Nasir and Mohamed Nasheed) have resigned from the post. [15] [16] Mohamed Amin Didi was the shortest-serving President, serving for a total of 7 months and 21 days in 1953. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom served as President for 30 years, from 1978 to 2008, making him the longest-serving President and one of the longest-serving Presidents in Asia. [17] The incumbent President is Mohamed Muizzu, who assumed office on 17 November 2023. [18]

Presidents

* Acting president
List of Presidents of the Maldives [12]
No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)		PartyTerm of office Vice President ElectedRef.
Took officeLeft office
1 Mohamed Amin.jpg Mohamed Amin
(1910–1954)		 Muthagaddim 1 January 195321 August 1953 Ibrahim Muhammad 1952 [19]
Vacant (21 August 1953–2 September 1953)
– Ibrahim Muhammad Didi.png Ibrahim Muhammad *
(1902–1981)		 Muthagaddim 2 September 19537 March 1954Vacant– [20]
Position abolished (7 March 1954–11 November 1968) [a]
2 Ibrahim Nasir.png Ibrahim Nasir
(1926–2008)		 Independent 11 November 196811 November 1978
(resigned)		Vacant until 1973
Abdul Sattar Moosa Didi
Ahmed Hilmy Didi
Ibrahim Shihab
Ali Maniku
Hassan Zareer 		1968
1973 		[21] [22] [23] [24] [25]
3 Maumoon Abdul Gayoom Presidential Portrait 2000s (cropped).jpeg Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
(b. 1937)		 Independent
People's 		11 November 197811 November 2008Vacant 1978
1983
1988
1993
1998
2003 		[26]
4 Mohamed Nasheed portrait (2).jpg Mohamed Nasheed
(b. 1967)		 Democratic 11 November 20087 February 2012
(resigned)		 Mohamed Waheed 2008 [27] [28]
5 Mohammed Waheed Hassan official portrait (cropped).jpg Mohamed Waheed
(b. 1953)		 Itthihaad 7 February 2012 [b] 17 November 2013Vacant until 25 April 2012
Mohamed Waheed Deen [c] 		– [32]
6 Abdulla Yameen presidential portrait (cropped).jpg Abdulla Yameen
(b. 1959)		 Progressive 17 November 201317 November 2018 Mohamed Jameel [d]
Ahmed Adeeb [e]
Vacant [f]
Abdulla Jihad [g] 		2013 [38]
7 Ibrahim Mohamed Solih official portrait.jpg Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
(b. 1962)		 Democratic 17 November 201817 November 2023 Faisal Naseem 2018 [39]
8 Dr Muizzu in December 2023.jpg Mohamed Muizzu
(b. 1978)		 Congress 17 November 2023Incumbent Hussain Mohamed Latheef 2023 [40]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The monarchy was restored, Muhammad Fareed Didi ruled as Sultan of the Maldives during this period (1954–1968). From 1958 to 1963, Abdullah Afeef served as president of the United Suvadive Republic, a breakaway state of the Maldives.
  2. ↑ Mohamed Waheed succeeded to the presidency upon the resignation of Mohamed Nasheed. [29]
  3. ↑ Appointed Vice President under terms of Article 122 of the Constitution of the Maldives [30] [31]
  4. ↑ Removed from power on 21 July 2015 by President Yameen, through a vote taken in the People's Majlis [33]
  5. ↑ Removed from power on 5 November 2015 by President Yameen, through a vote taken in the People's Majlis, after he was allegedly involved in the assassination attempt of President Yameen [34]
  6. ↑ From 5 November 2015 until 22 June 2016 [35]
  7. ↑ Appointed as Vice President under terms of Article 122 of the Constitution of the Maldives [36] [37]

References

  1. ↑ "The battle of the systems: Parliamentary vs Presidential". Maldives Financial Review. Archived from the original on 23 September 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2025. The presidential system is a form of government in which the president is the chief executive and is elected directly by the people. In this system all three branches – the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary are constitutionally independent of each other, and no branch can dismiss or dissolve another. The President is responsible for enforcing laws, the legislature for making them, and the courts for judging.
  2. ↑ "President launches the MNDF Air Corps and the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) into service". The President's Office . 15 March 2024. Archived from the original on 19 July 2025. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  3. ↑ "The Cabinet". The President's Office . 17 November 2023. Archived from the original on 1 October 2025. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  4. ↑ "Constitution of the Maldives" (PDF). The President's Office . Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 September 2025. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 Naajih, Muhammad (23 June 2025). "Prime Minister in the Maldives: Past and Potential Revival". Ras. Archived from the original on 21 December 2025. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  6. ↑ "Maldives - HISTORY". Library of Congress Country Studies . Library of Congress. Archived from the original on 16 July 2025. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  7. ↑ Helen Chapin, Metz (1995). Indian Ocean: Five Island Countries. Library of Congress Country Studies. p. 280. ISBN   9780844408576.
  8. ↑ Manik, Abdul Hakeem Hussein (10 August 1997). "Ameen's Republic". maldivesculture.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011.
  9. 1 2 "Hakeem - Yesterday Chapter 8 - Truth is Bitter - Ibrahim Didi did not give Ameen Didi to the mob". maldivesculture.com. 1997. Archived from the original on 17 February 2011.
  10. ↑ "The Restoration of the Sultanate". Maldives Story. Archived from the original on 5 January 2009.
  11. ↑ Riyaz, Ahmed (11 November 2012). "ރާއްޖޭގެ ވެރިކަން ޖުމުހުރީ ވެރިކަމަކަށް ބަދަލުވުން" [The transition of the country to a republic]. utheemu.com (in Divehi). Archived from the original on 11 August 2014.
  12. 1 2 "Former Presidents". The President's Office . Archived from the original on 25 October 2025. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  13. 1 2 "United Suvadive Republic". Maldives Royal Family. Archived from the original on 12 February 2025. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  14. ↑ "History". Discover Addu. Archived from the original on 6 October 2025. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  15. ↑ "Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed resigns amid unrest". BBC News. 7 February 2012. Archived from the original on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  16. ↑ "Ibrahim Nasir: first President of the Maldives". The Times . 2 December 2008. Archived from the original on 9 December 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  17. ↑ "Boy scout saves Gayoom from assassination". The Daily Star . Agence France-Presse. 9 January 2008. Archived from the original on 20 February 2025. Retrieved 25 October 2025. Officials said a 20-year-old unemployed man tried to plunge a knife into Gayoom's stomach, but that Asia's longest serving president was unhurt thanks to a boy scout who wrestled with the attacker before he was detained.
  18. ↑ "Dr. Mohamed Muizzu sworn in as President of the Maldives". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Maldives) . 17 November 2023. Archived from the original on 2 December 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  19. ↑ "President Al Ameer Mohamed Amin". The President's Office . Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  20. ↑ "Maldives". World Statesmen. Archived from the original on 14 August 2025. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  21. ↑ "President Al Ameer Ibrahim Nasir". The President's Office . Archived from the original on 18 June 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  22. ↑ "State Dignitary Abdul Sattar Moosa Didi passes away; National Flag to be flown at half-mast". The President's Office . 27 December 2015. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  23. ↑ "Abdul Sattar Moosa Didi passes away". vnews. 28 November 2015. Archived from the original on 22 September 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  24. ↑ "Chiefs of state and cabinet members of foreign governments" (PDF). Central Intelligence Agency . p. 48. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 January 2017.
  25. ↑ Asia Yearbook. Review Publishing Company. 1978. p. 255.
  26. ↑ "President Uz. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom". The President's Office . Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  27. ↑ "President Mohamed Nasheed". The President's Office . Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  28. ↑ Jason, Burke (7 February 2012). "Mohamed Nasheed resigns as Maldives president". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 8 September 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  29. ↑ "New Maldives leader Waheed Hassan vows calm transition". BBC News . 7 February 2012. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  30. ↑ "All Ministers" (PDF). People's Majlis (in Divehi). 16 February 2012. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
  31. ↑ "President thanks Parliament for strong endorsement for government". The President's Office. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  32. ↑ "President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan". The President's Office. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  33. ↑ "Parliament impeaches Vice President Dr Jameel in absentia". Minivan News . 21 July 2015. Archived from the original on 18 September 2025. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  34. ↑ "Maldives crisis: Vice-President Ahmed Adeeb removed from power". BBC News. 5 November 2015. Archived from the original on 26 February 2025.
  35. ↑ "Yameen appoints third vice president, reshuffles cabinet". Maldives Independent . 22 June 2016. Archived from the original on 20 July 2025. Retrieved 21 December 2025. The vice president's post has been vacant since the November impeachment of Ahmed Adeeb, who has since been convicted of masterminding the September 28 blast on Yameen's speedboat.
  36. ↑ "Vice President Jihad letter" (PDF). People's Majlis (in Divehi). p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 August 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  37. ↑ Afrah, Mohamed (22 June 2016). "Maldives Appoints New Vice President". PSM News . Public Service Media. Archived from the original on 28 December 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  38. ↑ "President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom". The President's Office . Archived from the original on 18 June 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  39. ↑ "President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih". The President's Office . Archived from the original on 27 February 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  40. ↑ "President Dr Mohamed Muizzu". The President's Office . Archived from the original on 6 March 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
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