President Muizzu announced several significant policy shifts in his first post-election press conference, including abandoning plans for further constitutional amendments following the referendum defeat, ending political patronage hiring in favour of merit-based appointments requiring minimum qualifications, and pledging to submit an AI regulation bill to parliament. He also expressed frustration at the slow progress of the Thilamalé Bridge – now pushed to a 2027 completion – and accused the Malé City Council of obstructing development projects, citing the stalled local market redevelopment and an incomplete road pavement near the market area as examples. He denied allegations that around 85 political appointees were hired at MACL following the recent elections, some earning between MVR 20,000 (US$ 1,300) and MVR 40,000 monthly for roles they reportedly do not perform, saying no such list had reached him. He reiterated that SOEs have been directed to reduce staffing and remove employees hired outside proper procedures. The government will only pursue limited constitutional amendments necessary to fulfil specific campaign pledges, such as reforming the composition of the Judicial Service Commission, he said. He declined former President Nasheed's invitation to negotiate on constitutional reform proposals. He said the sweeping changes fall outside the mandate given to him by voters and pointed to the referendum result – where 69 percent voted against constitutional amendments – as evidence that the public does not want major systemic changes.
Muizzu said no concerns about the Malé Taxi app corruption allegations had reached him, though he acknowledged the app had technical problems and said he had directed the transport ministry to address them and take action if wrongdoing is found. The app contract, worth MVR 13 million (US$ 843,000), was awarded without competitive bidding to a company with no development experience that is registered in the name of a relative of a senior MTCC official.
The Criminal Court sentenced a Bangladeshi man to life imprisonment and ordered him to pay MVR 1.25 million in blood money for the 2021 stabbing death of a fellow Bangladeshi national aboard a fishing vessel. Mohamed Masood was convicted of killing Mohamed Shaheen on March 7, 2021, after DNA evidence linked both men to a knife found in Masood's possession. The court found that Shaheen died from a stab wound to his right side causing lung compression and severe blood loss and that no attempt was made to help him after the attack.
Chief Judicial Administrator Amjad Mustafa resigned from his post, just over a year after being appointed in February 2024, submitting his resignation letter to the Judicial Service Commission without disclosing a reason. It came on the same day President Muizzu publicly criticised the judiciary's administrative structure, stating that senior administrative officials in courts wield more influence than chief judges. Muizzu has been calling for the Department of Judicial Administration to be removed from under the JSC's oversight.
MIFCO's retail outlets in Malé ran out of dried fish after an unusually poor fishing season reduced production, Mihaaru reported. The company said stocks should be replenished within two days as catches improve. Private retailer Enzi is also rationing dried fish to one kilogram per customer. Fishermen, particularly in the north, have been reluctant to go to sea due to surging fuel costs linked to the Middle East war. The price of fish has been rising sharply as a result.
Bank of Maldives denied claims it had stopped selling dollars to businesses for telegraphic transfers. The bank continues to provide forex support within each business's allocated limit, the BML spokesman said. The bank sold US$ 106.2 million for outward remittances in the first quarter, a 142 percent increase on the monthly average of US$ 14.6 million last year and has facilitated over 38,855 TTs so far this year, he said. BML acknowledged that outflows currently exceed inflows due to the Middle East conflict, but said some businesses may not receive the full amount requested.
Bank of Maldives reported a 27 percent increase in net profit to MVR 631 million for the first quarter of 2026. Total assets surpassed MVR 60 billion for the first time. The bank disbursed MVR 5 billion in new loans in the year to mid-April, half the total lending for all of 2025. However, BML flagged emerging pressure on foreign currency flows since the Middle East conflict began, with tourist card inflows down by a third this month while import outflows have doubled. The bank said it may make "temporary adjustments" to dollar sales volumes if conditions persist.
Police arrested a 22-year-old Maldivian man, Adam Adlan Latheef of Thaa Vilufushi, on suspicion of buying and selling child sexual abuse material using a Binance cryptocurrency wallet. Arrested on April 5 and remanded for 15 days, his devices yielded a large volume of child sexual abuse images and videos during forensic examination. The case is being investigated by the Family and Child Protection Unit.
The Judicial Service Commission appointed Abdulla Jameel Moosa as Chief Judge of the High Court, formalising a role he has held in an acting capacity since November 2025. He replaced Mohamed Faisal, who resigned days after the Anti-Corruption Commission opened an investigation into him. The JSC also appointed Abdulla Nasheed as Chief Judge of the Family Court.
The ruling PNC appointed Moosa Fathuhy Adam, formerly state minister at the now-dissolved local government ministry, as the party's new Secretary General. Fathuhy also resigned as President Muizzu's representative on the Privatisation and Corporatisation Board. He fills the vacancy left by former PNC SG Muaz Haleem, who resigned last Saturday as part of the broader reshuffle following the government's heavy defeat in the April 4 elections and referendum.
Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed deflected questions in parliament about the Development Bank of Maldives, which has yet to begin full operations despite receiving its banking licence in October 2024 and an operating permit in January 2025. Saeed criticised the previous MDP government's unfulfilled promises, including fish factories and offshore fish purchasing facilities that were never built. The DBM's first CEO, British national Noel Gregor Paterson-Jones, resigned in March last year before the bank had properly launched operations.
Austria banned German baby food brand HiPP over suspicions that products contained rodenticide, prompting the Maldives Food and Drug Authority to warn the public against importing, selling, or using the brand locally. Austrian police have launched an investigation and are pulling the products from shelves. The FDA noted HiPP is not registered in the Maldives but cautioned that unauthorised products may have entered the market.
