Top UN official arrives in Malé to resuscitate all-party talks
Tamrat Samuel, a senior advisor to the UN’s department of political affairs, is seeking to lay the groundwork “for substantive political party dialogue in the interest of attaining long-term political stability and rule of law in the Maldives.”
17 Apr 2016, 9:00 AM
A senior UN official on political affairs arrived in the Maldives Saturday in a bid to resuscitate talks between the government and opposition parties.
The UN office in the Maldives said in a statement that Tamrat Samuel, senior advisor to the UN’s department of political affairs, will seek to lay the groundwork “for substantive political party dialogue in the interest of attaining long-term political stability and rule of law in the Maldives.”
Faced with the threat of targeted sanctions and “punitive action” by the Commonwealth, President Abdulla Yameen invited opposition parties for talks in early February to resolve a year-long political crisis sparked by the jailing of former President Mohamed Nasheed and other high-profile politicians.
But the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party and ally Adhaalath Party have so far refused to engage in talks unless the government establishes “an atmosphere of trust” by releasing their respective leaders. The parties say the government had reneged on commitments made during negotiations in July last year.
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