Former President Nasheed and ex-MDP chairman Fayyaz Ismail jointly unveiled a sweeping constitutional reform package, proposing a hybrid system that separates the head of state from the head of government with the latter to be elected directly by the people and the former chosen by parliament and councillors. The package also proposes parliamentary recall votes, public votes to remove Supreme Court justices and independent commission members, and curbs on executive influence over the judiciary. The announcement revealed the terms of their alliance: Nasheed declared he will contest the MDP chairperson election and back Fayyaz for the 2028 presidential ticket. MP Meekail Naseem appears to be the candidate from the rival faction led by former President Solih. At Sunday's press conference, Nasheed warned he would pursue the reforms through street action if the government refused to negotiate.
The Maldives requested an extension on a US$ 400 million currency swap facility with the Reserve Bank of India, which is due to expire at the end of this month. According to India's Economic Times, India is facing difficulties accommodating the request, as RBI's own rules on cooling-off periods and rollover limits have been exhausted and any extension would require special arrangements outside standard procedures. The request comes after the Maldives paid US$ 525 million to settle its sukuk obligations on April 1, drawing down foreign reserves. India has previously extended the swap twice and separately deferred repayment on US$ 100 million in SBI bonds without interest.
Police released two people arrested during MDP's ongoing street protests demanding government accountability after the ruling party's poor showing in the council elections. Naifaru constituency president Abdullah Rasheed Hassan and youth wing vice president Ahmed Maimoon Mohamed were both taken to IGMH with injuries sustained during their arrest, the party said. The protest continued on Sunday night. At a separate PNF protest on Majeedee Magu, 11 police officers seized a red sofa that demonstrators had placed on the street – a reference to President Muizzu's alleged sexual affair with a former staffer – forcibly removing people who were sitting on it and loading it onto a police vehicle. PNF lawyers retrieved the sofa from the tow yard shortly after. Both opposition parties are holding nightly protests calling for Muizzu's resignation and the formation of a transitional government.
President Muizzu attributed the government's referendum defeat to PNC campaign teams failing to adequately explain the proposal for concurrent presidential and parliamentary elections, accepting the result and stating the election schedule will remain unchanged. Speaking at a rally in Alif Alif Rasdhoo – where PNC celebrated winning the island council majority with fireworks – he warned that councils obstructing the government's work will be publicly named at his weekly Monday press conferences, while vowing to serve all constituents regardless of which party controls their council. He expressed doubt that Malé City Council, now dominated by MDP, would cooperate with the government, pointing to the ongoing opposition protests as evidence and called on elected officials to prioritise national interest over party politics.
A 38-year-old Bangladeshi man suffered serious neck injuries after being attacked with a sharp object on Karanka Magu in the early hours of Friday. Police arrested fellow Bangladeshi national Anthar Mulla, 28, in connection with the attack, and a court has remanded him in custody for seven days. The victim is receiving treatment at IGMH.
Addu City Council called on state fuel company Fuel Supplies Maldives to extend its services to the southernmost atoll, citing a stark price disparity where petrol costs MVR 24.22 (US$ 1.57) and diesel MVR 31.34 per litre in Addu, compared to MVR 18.56 and MVR 18.68 respectively in Malé. The council noted that FSM had previously supplied fuel to private retailers at subsidised rates but has since stopped and that the only FSM pump in Gan is outdated and causes long queues. The council urged the government to bridge the price gap and find an urgent solution to what it called an unfair burden on Addu residents.
Police launched an investigation after the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve office reported that a group from Baa Kendhoo killed and butchered a sea turtle on the uninhabited island of Baa Hulhudhoo. Sea turtles are a protected species in the Maldives. But their meat is commonly consumed in some atolls.
Former Addu Mayor Abdullah Sodhiq 'Sobe' secured the MDP ticket for the Hithadhoo North constituency by-election after standing unopposed in the party's primary. On the PNC side, ousted MP Mohamed Sinan and Hithadhoo Moolekede councillor Ahmed Saeed 'Sodha' have both entered the ruling party's primary, scheduled for Saturday, April 25.
The government has disbursed MVR 163 million to businesses through banks since March to ease the economic impact of the Middle East war, Finance Minister Moosa Zameer said at a crisis committee briefing. Dollar sales to banks surged to US$106 million in the first quarter, up from an average of US$5.6 million in the same period last year, while card settlement allocations rose from US$26 million to US$40 million, he said. Banks also issued MVR 540 million in tourism sector loans and MVR 940 million in construction lending during the quarter.
Customs intercepted more than one kilogram of drugs at Velana International Airport on April 17 and arrested Alya Sharsa Naseer, 25. A second suspect, Aminath Roona, 29, of Thulusdhoo, was arrested the same night in Hulhumalé in a joint operation by the Drug Enforcement Department and Counter Narcotics Intelligence. Both were remanded for 15 days.
The Thilamalé Bridge connecting Malé, Vilimalé, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi is 72 percent complete, the infrastructure ministry told Mihaaru. Of the 1,222 deck segments needed, 84 percent have been cast and 54 percent installed. The 6.7km bridge, six times the length of the Sinamalé Bridge, is being built by India's Afcons under a US$ 500 million package comprising a US$ 400 million Indian Exim Bank credit line and US$ 100 million in grant aid.
Para Sports opened registrations for the Maldives' first-ever Blindfold Run, themed "Run for Light," scheduled for June 5. Sighted and visually impaired participants run in pairs, giving the public a firsthand experience of the challenges faced by persons with disabilities in sport. Participants register via a form at MVR 700 per pair and receive a race kit including a jersey, bib, eye mask, tether, and finisher medal. Registration closes May 20.
