News Desk
MALE’, Maldives — The CEO of Maldives Ports Limited (MPL), Mohamed Wajeeh Ibrahim, has been removed from his position, marking another shake-up within the administration of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.
The Privatization and Corporatization Board (PCB) dismissed Wajeeh, who also served as a board director, without disclosing the reasons for the decision. His tenure at MPL was brief—appointed on November 28, 2023, he was removed just a year later. In his role, Wajeeh introduced changes to MPL’s operational dynamics and gained attention for his new initiatives.
The move follows the recent dismissal of Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal, the son of Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla. After Faisal’s ouster, the president merged the Ministry of Tourism with the Ministry of Environment, handing the portfolio to Thoriq Ibrahim, the former environment minister.
The back-to-back dismissals have fueled speculation of a broader political realignment within the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC). Wajeeh, a known associate of Speaker Abdul Raheem, is the latest in a string of figures closely linked to the Speaker to face removal. His dismissal has raised questions about whether President Muizzu is consolidating power by distancing himself from key allies of the Speaker—who played a pivotal role in bringing Muizzu to power. The reshuffling underscores the fluid nature of Maldivian politics, where shifting alliances and political maneuvering are routine.
The president and the Speaker will come face to face on February 6, when the Majlis opens its new session and Muizzu delivers the state of the nation address. Observers are watching closely to determine whether these developments signal deeper rifts or a strategic recalibration.
Once a close confidant of former President Abdulla Yameen, Abdul Raheem was instrumental in Muizzu’s rise within the PNC. However, Maldivian political history is rife with shifting allegiances, and the same holds true for the relationship between Abdul Raheem and Muizzu. The Speaker, once aligned with Yameen, fell out with the former president in a series of political spats involving saber-rattling, character assassinations, and public confrontations. Now, a similar pattern appears to be emerging between Muizzu and Abdul Raheem, despite the Speaker’s assertion that he would stand by the president “until the last.”
While no official explanation has been provided for the dismissals, the developments suggest a strategic recalibration of Muizzu’s power base, with further changes likely on the horizon.
