Aishath Azeema

After completing the GCE Ordinary Level, Azeema subsequently joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a public servant in 1988.^[3][4] She worked in various departments, primarily the Department of External Resources and the Foreign Relations Department, at one point serving as English secretary at the ministry.^[3] For five years, she served as a minister-counsellor and head of chancery at the Maldivian Embassy in India, a close partner nation to the Maldives.^[3][5][6]

Having returned to serve as joint secretary in charge of the China and Japan Divisions in 2014,^[3][7] Azeema helped negotiate the Maldives' first bilateral free trade agreement, with China, which beginning with the presidency of Abdulla Yameen has become a major influence in the country.^[3][5][8] Then, after a stint as Chargé d'affaires or deputy secretary at the Maldivian Embassy in the United Kingdom, she was appointed ambassador to China in 2019.^[3][4][6] During her tenure, Azeema worked to build "enduring friendly ties" with Beijing.^[9] In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, she oversaw government support to Maldivians in China.^[10] She completed her service as ambassador to China in September 2023.^[2]

In October 2024, President Mohamed Muizzu nominated Azeema to replace Ibrahim Shaheeb as high commissioner of the Maldives to India to the People's Majlis.^[11] The Foreign Relations Committee of the People's Majlis later unanimously approved Azeema as high commissioner.^[12] She was later appointed on 30 October 2024.^[13] Azeema later presented her letter of credence to Indian president Droupadi Murmu on 17 February 2025.^[14]