News Desk
MALE’, Maldives — The government of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has merged the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy with the Ministry of Tourism, appointing Thoriq Ibrahim as the new minister.
Thoriq took the oath of office at a ceremony held at the President’s Office on this afternoon. His appointment follows the dismissal of former Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal on Tuesday. Until Thoriq’s appointment, the ministry was temporarily overseen by Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed.
Faisal, the son of Parliament Speaker Abdul Raheem, was appointed on November 17, the first day of Muizzu’s administration. His tenure had faced criticism, though the government has not disclosed an official reason for his dismissal.
Tourism sector stakeholders had urged the president not to appoint a previous tourism minister or anyone directly involved in the resort business to the role. While questions have been raised about whether Thoriq owns a luxury guesthouse in ADh. Dhigurah, there has been no official confirmation.
After Thoriq’s appointment, President Muizzu met with him and emphasized the need to promote Maldives tourism by integrating environmental and sustainability initiatives. However, industry figures have expressed concerns over whether the new minister will be able to enforce the sector’s environmental regulations effectively.
