News Desk
A series of dismissals across government and state‑owned companies has unfolded within the past 24 hours, with several senior political appointees and executives relieved of their posts. No official explanation has been issued, and the President’s Office has not commented on the changes.
Among those removed is Mohammed Hussain Sharif, known as Mundhu, who served as the Maldives Ambassador to the UAE and previously held senior roles in the PPP and DRP. His name disappeared from the list of ambassadors on the President’s Office website, along with that of Dr Salma Rasheed, the Maldives Ambassador and Permanent Representative in Geneva.
Also dismissed is Aiminath Hussain Sharif, State Minister for Fisheries. All three are close relatives of PNC MP Asma Rasheed, whose leaked audio has circulated widely on social media. In the recording, Asma is heard telling constituents not to vote for the PNC in Saturday’s local council elections. She also claims she would not face political consequences for her remarks.
However, there is no confirmation that the dismissals are linked to the audio. The government has not stated a reason, and such decisions are rarely explained publicly.
The shake‑up extended to several state‑owned enterprises:
- MPL Managing Director Mohammed Rishwan
- State utility company FENAKA Managing Director Mohammed Najah
- Agronet Managing Director Hussain Didi
- MWSC Deputy Managing Director Shahid
- HDC Deputy Managing Director Mohammed Asbah
The timing has drawn attention, coming after the local council elections, women’s development committee elections and recent opinion polls. In politics two factors tend to determine survival in appointed roles: loyalty and results. Without loyalty, patronage weakens. Without results, positions become harder to justify.
What remains unclear is which of these pressures, if any, shaped the latest round of dismissals. For now, the government’s silence leaves room only for speculation, while the list of removed officials continues to grow.
