President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has forwarded the names of 22 members of the Cabinet of Ministers appointed under Article 129 (a) of the Constitution to the Parliament for parliamentary approval.
The President appointed these 22 members to the Council of Ministers on Friday, November 17, 2023. The members of his cabinet were appointed in a function held at the President’s Office on Friday night. Their oath was administered by Chief Justice Ahmed Muthasim Adnan.
Muizzu has appointed a 22-member Cabinet, and some of the ministries are completely new.
MINISTER OF FINANCE: DR. MOHAMED SHAFEEQ
Dr. Mohamed Shafeeq is the Chief Financial Officer of Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC). He joined the corporation in 2009, and was appointed to the post of CFO in 2021.
He attained his PhD in Business Administration from the IIC University of Technology, Cambodia, via the European Institute of Professional Education in Sri Lanka.
ATTORNEY GENERAL: AHMED USHAM
Ahmed Usham, the incumbent Vilimale’ MP, is an attorney-at-law. He attained his Bachelor of Law from University of West England.
Usham previously served as Deputy Solicitor General at the Attorney General’s Office, and as Deputy Attorney General.
He contested the 2019 parliamentary elections as an independent candidate, but later joined MP Colonel (Retired) Mohamed Nazim and MP Abdulla Riyaz in founding the Maldives National Party (MNP).
He currently serves as the party’s deputy leader.
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: MOOSA ZAMEER
A close aide to former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, Moosa Zameer had served on Yameen’s cabinet as Tourism Minister from 2015-2018.
He also served as Kinbidhoo MP from 2009-2014.
Zameer attained his Bachelor of Business Management from University of Sunderland, and his Master of Business Administration from the Cardiff Metropolitan University.
MINISTER OF HOMELAND, SECURITY AND TECHNOLOGY: ALI IHUSAN
Ali Ihusan, who resigned after 10 years of service at the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF), entered politics in 2021.
He joined the MNP, but later left the party in June 2022.
Ihusan had been a member of the commission Yameen established on September 29, 2015, to investigate the explosion on board the presidential speedboat, Finifenma, which injured the then-First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim.
He attained his Bachelor of Defense and Strategic Studies from the United States Military Academy West Point, and Master of Business Administration from Singapore’s Nanyang Business School.
MINISTER OF DEFENSE: GHASSAN MAUMOON
Ghassan Maumoon, the son of former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, is among is uncle, Yameen’s most loyal aides.
Ghassan, the incumbent Th. Guraidhoo MP, studied Molecular Biology and Biomedical Sciences from King’s College London.
MINISTER OF HOUSING, LAND AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT: DR. ALI HAIDER
Dr. Ali Haider had served as Housing Minister for three short months, at the end of Maumoon’s administration. He was among the people who endorsed Muizzu when he ran for Male’ City Mayor in 2021.
He attained his Bachelor Town and Country Planning from University of Manchester, and his PhD in Planning Studies from University College London.
MINISTER OF CONSTRUCTION AND INFRASTRUCTURE: DR. ABDULLA MUTHALIB
Dr. Abdulla Muthalib had been Muizzu’s deputy when he served as Housing Minister during Yameen’s administration.
He attained his PhD in Engineering from the University College London.
MINISTER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TRADE: MOHAMED SAEED
Mohamed Saeed had served as Economic Minister during Yameen’s administration.
He is the incumbent Maavah MP and the PNC deputy leader.
Saeed attained his Master of MS Tourism and Hospitality from the University of Birmingham.
MINISTER OF HEALTH: DR. ABDULLA KHALEEL
Dr. Abdulla Khaleel had previously served as Nilandhoo MP, as well as Director General at the Civil Service Commission, and Secretary General at PPM.
He attained his PhD in Public Policy in 2015, and wrote his thesis on decentralizing Maldives.
MINISTER OF TOURISM: IBRAHIM FAISAL
Ibrahim Faisal, the son of PNC chairperson Abdul Raheem Abdulla, previously worked at the Maldivian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
A member of PNC’s senate, Faisal unsuccessfully contested the 2018 parliamentary elections for the Hulhumale’ seat.
He attained his higher education from Malaysia.
MINISTER OF CITIES, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS: ADAM SHAREEF UMAR
Adam Shareef Umar is the deputy leader of PNC and the incumbent Maduvvari MP.
He served as Defense Minister during Yameen’s administration, and previously also served as Deputy Education Minister.
Adam Shareef attained his Master of Education from the University of East London.
MINISTER OF EDUCATION: DR. ISMAIL SHAFEEU
Dr. Ismail Shafeeu had served as State Minister for Education during Yameen’s administration. He was appointed as the Dean of Islamic University of Maldives’ Center for Research and Publication in 2020.
He attained his Bachelor of Teaching from the Maldives National University, Master of Educational Management from Universiti Malaya, and PhD from Durham University.
MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION, LABOR AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT: DR. MARIYAM MARIYA
Though a relatively unknown figure in politics, Dr. Mariyam Mariya has years of contribution to education sector under her belt.
She attained her Masters from University of Canberra, and PhD from Massey University.
She worked in a number of educational institutes, including Villa College, Islamic University of Maldives, and Maldives National University.
MINISTER OF ISLAMIC AFFAIRS: DR. MOHAMED SHAHEEM ALI SAEED
Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, who served as Islamic Minister from 2012-2015, had been Yameen’s running mate in the 2018 presidential election.
He attained his Bachelor of Islamic Sharia from University of Medina, and PhD from International Islamic University Malaysia.
MINISTER OF SPORTS, FITNESS AND RECREATION: ABDULLA RAFIU
Abdulla Rafiu, a rehabilitation specialist, worked as a physician for the national football team and other national athletic teams that competed in international sports tournaments.
He studied a course in Sports Physiotherapy and Sports Physician from India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
MINISTER OF YOUTH EMPOWERMENT, INFORMATION AND ARTS: IBRAHIM WAHEED (ASWARD)
CEO of SanguTV and former Deputy CEO of RaajjeTV, Ibrahim Waheed (Asward) ran in the MDP primary for the 2014 parliamentary elections. He later left the MDP and ran for the Thulusdhoo parliamentary seat on a MTD ticket.
He attained his higher education in journalism.
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND ANIMAL WELFARE: DR. AISHATH RAMEELA
Dr. Aishath Rameela served as State Minister for Health during Yameen’s administration.
Rameela, who has a PhD, previously also served as State Minister for Gender, and as Registrar at Maldives Medical and Dental Council.
MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND CIVIL AVIATION: MOHAMED AMEEN (CAPTAIN AMEEN)
Mohamed Ameen (Captain Ameen), who served as campaign managers for both Yameen and Muizzu, has 26 years of experience in the aviation sector. He previously served as Operations Director at Island Aviation.
He was dismissed from Island Aviation in 2019, but won an unlawful termination lawsuit and received compensation.
MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND CIVIL AVIATION: DR. AISHATH SHIHAM
Dr. Aishath Shiham had served as Education Minister during Yameen’s administration.
She attained her Bachelor of Guidance and Counselling from the University of South Pacific, Master of Counselling Psychology from Macquarie University, and PhD in Psychology from University of New Castle.
MINISTER OF CLIMATE CHNAGE, ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY: IBRAHIM TORIQ
Ibrahim Toriq served as Environment Minister during Yameen’s administration.
He attained his Bachelor of Engineering from the Loughborough University of Technology, Master of Sciences from Singapore National University, and MBA from Preston University.
MINISTER OF FISHERIES AND OCEAN RESOURCES: AHMED SHIYAM
Ahmed Shiyam, the incumbent Naifaru MP is a popular politician. He is serving his second term as Naifaru MP.
Shiyam is the deputy leader of PPM.
He spent his younger days in the tourism sector, as a diver.
MINISTER OF DHIVEHI LANGUAGE, CULTURE AND HERITAGE: ADAM NASEER IBRAHIM
Adam Naseer Ibrahim, who has years of experience in Dhivehi language and literature, will be heading a completely new ministry.
Naseer received the National Youth Award for his contributions to poetry and literature in 2007.
He has worked over 29 years as a lecturer at the Islamic University of Maldives.
