Dr. Muizzu’s promising cabinet

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s cabinet, which will be sworn in on Friday night, have a number of educated and experienced individuals. Nearly half of the 22 members of the cabinet have PhDs.

FINANCE MINISTER: 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.

FOREIGN MINISTER: 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.

HOME MINISTER: 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.

GHASSAN MAUMOON: DEFENSE MINISTER

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.

HOUSING MINISTER: 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.

INFRASTRUCTURE MINISTER: 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.

ECONOMICS MINISTER: 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.

HEALTH MINISTER: 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.

TOURISM MINISTER: 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.

LOCAL GOVERNANCE MINISTER: 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.

EDUCATION MINISTER: 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.

HIGHER EDUCATION MINISTER: 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.

ISLAMIC MINISTER: 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.

SPORTS MINISTER: 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.

YOUTH MINISTER: IBRAHIM WAHEED (ASWARD)

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.

AGRICULTURE MINISTER: 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.

TRANSPORT MINISTER: 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.

GENDER MINISTER: 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.

ENVIRONMENT MINISTER: 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.

FISHERIES MINISTER: 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.

NATIONALISM MINISTER: 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.