Terrorism, climate change and return to democracy: President Solih addresses UN General Assembly

In these difficult times, when the great wave of democracy that swept the world during the last century seems to have ebbed, the Maldives represents a remarkable story. It is a story of second chances, a story of people power, a story of how we as a nation, managed to reverse a downward spiral towards autocratic rule.

Exactly one year ago, in the early hours of 24th September 2018, results of the Maldivian Presidential Elections were announced. The elections were significant because they represented our one shot at rekindling democracy in our country. As many of you would know, our democratic journey that began in November 2008 was cut short within a few years. Lurking behind the high idealism of our democratic moment were remnants of the old autocracy. The judiciary was hijacked, parliament brought to a standstill, institutions of state co-opted and the press gagged. Political opponents were constantly threatened and opposition leaders either jailed or exiled. Many in the international community spoke out against this reversal. As is the wont of autocrats, the regime turned its back to the world. We left the Commonwealth of Nations, insisting its calls for democracy in the Maldives was an affront to our sovereignty. Isolationism became our default foreign policy.