country

Commonwealth

Politics

Commonwealth commends conduct of parliamentary polls

Concerns included the small number of female candidates.

18 Jul 2019, 9:00 AM

Politics

International observers offer positive assessment of polls

Teams from the EU, Commonwealth and foreign embassies observed the election.

10 Apr 2019, 9:00 AM

Politics

Maldives parliament endorses decision to rejoin Commonwealth

The cabinet’s decision was approved unanimously with 62 votes.

05 Dec 2018, 9:00 AM

Features & Comment

Why the Commonwealth and Maldives will miss each other

Commonwealth membership brings a wide range of benefits, many of which the Maldives, to its credit, has taken full advantage of, writes James Dauris, British ambassador to the Maldives.

07 Dec 2016, 9:00 AM

Politics

Maldives parliament endorses decision to quit Commonwealth

The People’s Majlis endorsed today President Abdulla Yameen’s decision for the Maldives to quit the Commonwealth over alleged unfair treatment, interference in domestic affairs, and threats to sovereignty and independence.

19 Oct 2016, 9:00 AM

Politics

UK “disappointed” by Maldives withdrawal from Commonwealth

Adding to the chorus of concern, UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Thursday that the UK “regrets that the Maldives has chosen to leave.”

15 Oct 2016, 9:00 AM

Politics

Maldives quits the Commonwealth: a round up of reactions

The decision to quit the Commonwealth has prompted a storm of criticism and calls to reverse the Maldives’ isolationist course

14 Oct 2016, 9:00 AM

Politics

Maldives quits Commonwealth citing ‘unfair and unjust’ treatment

The move comes after the Commonwealth’s democracy watchdog placed the Maldives on its formal agenda and warned of suspension if progress is not made by March 2017 to resolve an intractable political crisis.

13 Oct 2016, 9:00 AM

Politics

Government hopes to begin direct talks with opposition by mid October

The government is open to discussing the release of opposition leaders and has agreed to an opposition demand for mediation by the United Nations, the fisheries minister said.

29 Sep 2016, 9:00 AM

Politics

MDP decides to join all-party talks

The MDP’s national council decided to heed the Commonwealth’s call for time-bound dialogue without preconditions “to achieve national agreement on institutional reform, and to ensure a conducive environment for credible and inclusive presidential elections in 2018.”

27 Sep 2016, 9:00 AM

Politics

Maldives placed on Commonwealth agenda, warned of suspension

The Maldives has been placed on the Commonwealth’s formal agenda and warned of suspension, with officials citing “deep disappointment” at the country’s lack of progress in resolving a protracted political crisis.

24 Sep 2016, 9:00 AM

Politics

Watchdog reacts furiously to Commonwealth plan for judicial reform

The JSC says it was not consulted on the Commonwealth’s plan to hire a lawyer to assist in reforming the commission and the judiciary

25 Aug 2016, 9:00 AM

Politics

UK awaits CMAG’s September review of Maldives

A British decision on imposing targeted sanctions against members of the Maldivian government will rest on the outcome of a Commonwealth-led push for reform in the Indian Ocean archipelago, a top diplomat from the UK has said.

30 Apr 2016, 9:00 AM

Politics

Defiant Yameen lashes out as concerns persist over jailing of opponents

The Maldives’ embattled president, Abdulla Yameen, has lashed out at persisting international scrutiny over the jailing of his opponents, days after cabinet ministers promised to follow recommendations for reform by the Commonwealth.

25 Apr 2016, 9:00 AM

Politics

Maldives and the Commonwealth’s formal agenda: both sides claim victory

Ministers here have said the CMAG had not placed the Maldives on its formal agenda, while critics argued that continued scrutiny means the Maldives is effectively on the 53-member inter-governmental body’s watch.

23 Apr 2016, 9:00 AM

Politics

Nasheed calls for reforms to the Commonwealth

“The Commonwealth, in short, needs to stop giving legitimacy, and thus helping to prop up, the dictators and authoritarians who abuse their people and flout the values that the Commonwealth is supposed to stand for,” said former President Mohamed Nasheed.

14 Apr 2016, 9:00 AM

Politics

Maldives seeks Indian protection from ‘unfair punitive action by CMAG’

“The reason I visited Mr Prime Minister in India today is to express my appreciation for the very steadfast leadership India has shown in protecting Maldives in the CMAG deliberations. We look at India for continued support in preventing any unfair, any punitive action by the CMAG on the Maldives,” President Yameen said today in his ongoing official visit to India.

11 Apr 2016, 9:00 AM

Politics

Talks are ‘an exercise in futility,’ MDP tells Commonwealth rep

Government-initiated all-party talks are an “exercise in futility” unless jailed political leaders are freed, the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party told a visiting Commonwealth representative today.

10 Apr 2016, 9:00 AM

Politics

President Yameen to make official visit to India

President Abdulla Yameen is scheduled to make an official visit to India ahead of a crucial Commonwealth summit. He is due to call on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 10.

08 Apr 2016, 9:00 AM

Politics

Maldives democracy on ‘negative trajectory,’ warns top US diplomat

Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Biswal said the Maldives has seen “a steady weakening of its fragile democracy and an erosion of the rule of law” with the imprisonment of opposition leaders, who “remain behind bars simply because they gave voice to their views, and because the government’s skin is too thin to brook any criticism or competition.”

31 Mar 2016, 9:00 AM

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