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 Malé in 1966. The Embassy of the People's Republic of China has since replaced this office.
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom is an Maldivian statesman, diplomat and scholar who served as the 3rd president of the Maldives from 1978 to 2008. He previously served as the Minister of Transport from 1977 to 1978, and as the Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations from 1976 to 1977. After serving six presidential terms, Gayoom became the longest serving president in Asia.
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.
Dunya Maumoon is a former Minister of Foreign Affairs (2013–2016) of the Government of Maldives.
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.
The Progressive Party of Maldives, is a political party in the Maldives with a total membership of 35,044 as of 25 April 2024. The stated goal of the party is driving Maldives towards an independent and democratic, safe and secure, high income, high human capital, developed nation state with a diversified and robust economy whilst preserving its Islamic heritage.
Visam Ali is a former High Commissioner of the Maldives to Malaysia. She was a Maldivian Member of Parliament representing Raa Atoll, Maduvvaree legislative district for the 18th sitting of Majlis of the Maldives.
Abdul Majeed Abdul Bari was a scholar and the Minister of Islamic Affairs of the Maldives from 2008 to 2012. Majeed died on 22 May, 2018, in Colombo, Sri Lanka at the age of 55.
Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom is a Maldivian politician who served as president of the Maldives from 2013 to 2018.
Alhan Fahmy was a Parliament member of the 17th People's Majlis sitting of Maldives representing the Addu Atoll Feydhoo Constituency representing the then, opposition party Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party under the leadership of former president Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom.
Rozaina Adam is a Member of Parliament in Maldives, who represents the Addu Meedhoo constituency. She was a member of Parliament since August 2008 to April 2024.
Hala Hameed is a Maldivian politician and diplomat who has been Secretary, Multilateral at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since August 2020.
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.
Aneesa Ahmed is a Maldivian women's rights activist who was also the first female speaker (vice) of People's Majlis from 2004 to 2009.
A political crisis in the Maldives intensified on after President Abdulla Yameen decided to disobey the Supreme Court order to release 9 political prisoners and reinstating 12 parliament members which will give the opposition (MDP) control of the chamber and potentially paving the way for Yameen's impeachment.
Zahiya Zareer, is a Maldivian politician and former teacher; she is Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of the Maldives and was formerly High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, after held two ministerial government offices.
Mohamed Khaleel is a Maldivian diplomat.
Yumna Maumoon is a Maldivian politician who served as Minister of Arts, Culture, and Heritage from 17 November 2018 to 17 November 2023 under the administration of Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
Shahindha Ismail is a Maldivian human rights activist who is the founder and executive director of the Maldivian Democracy Network, the first and longest running human rights NGO in the Maldives. She has served as the President of the Police Integrity Commission and as a member of the Prison Audit Commission. She is one of a few advocates against religious fundamentalism in the Maldives.
