Rival factions of the MDP reached a negotiated settlement as the party's National Council approved a transitional committee consisting of former presidents Nasheed and Solih to advise interim chairman Abdul Ghafoor Moosa. The five-member committee, appointed at an emergency national council meeting on Saturday night, also includes former chairman Fayyaz Ismail, party president Abdulla Shahid and parliamentary group leader Ibrahim Nazil. Nasheed was additionally granted a seat on the party’s national council in his capacity as a former president. The agreement follows days of negotiations after infighting spilled over into the public when Nasheed was allegedly excluded from the speaker's lineup at a victory rally held after the April 4 local council elections. A breakthrough came after a meeting between Fayyaz and Ghafoor on Friday night, which led to the withdrawal of a no-confidence motion to remove Ghafoor as interim chair. Legal director Ahmed Mauroof and deputy chair Ibrahim Waheed – both of whom had been dismissed by Ghafoor – were reinstated. Nasheed credited Fayyaz with helping to “calm the party’s internal discord”, while Solih said the leadership had found a way forward to work together.
A recount of a ballot box in Dhaalu Meedhoo resulted in Maldives Development Alliance candidate Mohamed Shaheed defeating People’s National Congress candidate Suha Ibrahim by a single vote to become council president. Both candidates were initially tied at 392 votes, but a recount of the Meedhoo-2 ballot box saw one vote for Suha declared invalid because it was marked with two ticks.
The Asian Development Bank forecast slower economic growth for the Maldives, citing the impact of conflict in the Middle East on tourism, energy prices, and fiscal and external buffers. In its April 2026 Asian Development Outlook, the ADB projected growth to slow to one percent in 2026, down from 5.4 percent in 2025, before recovering to three percent in 2027.
The Taxi Drivers Association of Maldives raised concerns over MTCC’s Malé taxi service, saying a state-owned company entering the sector undermines “fairness and equality” and could disrupt the regulatory framework governing the industry. The association alleged that the state-run taxi service violates several provisions of existing regulations. It criticised MTCC’s decision to offer free rides until its own booking app is relaunched, warning that the move could cause irrecoverable losses for private taxi operators amid the current economic downturn.
A video posted by a Facebook user raised concern over hygiene of tuna sold at the fish market in Malé. The clip appears to show fish being rinsed with seawater drawn directly from the harbour, which the user said is polluted since crew members of docked boats use the lagoon as their toilet.
Elections Commission president Mohamed Zahid said a second round of voting for candidates who tied in the local council elections will be held on April 18. According to provisional results, two council seats and three Women’s Development Committee seats remain unresolved. These include the women’s reserved council seats in Baa Dhonfanu and the Fuvahmulah Dhandimagu constituency, the WDC president post in Haa Alif Kelaa, and WDC member seats in Haa Dhaal Neykurendhoo and Laamu Maavah. The Elections Commission began announcing the final results of the local council elections on Saturday afternoon.
The housing ministry extended the deadline to apply for housing units under construction in Baa Thulhaadhoo and Thaa Vilufushi until April 30.
The first couple returned to Malé following an Umrah pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
