Cabinet of the Maldives

Composition and Appointment Process

The Cabinet of the Maldives consists of the Vice President of the Maldives, ministers responsible for the different ministries, and the Attorney General. Under Article 116 of the Constitution, the President has discretion to establish ministries and determine their areas of jurisdiction, subject to submission of that information to the People's Majlis (the unicameral parliament) for approval.^[1]: 41 Under Article 129, Cabinet members are appointed by the President and, except for the Vice President, those appointments require the approval of the People's Majlis.^[1]: 46 The Vice President, who is elected jointly with the President, serves as a member of the Cabinet without separate parliamentary approval.^[1]: 46

The appointment process is set out in Article 129 is as follows:^[1]: 46

1. The President appoints and names his Cabinet Ministers, including the Attorney General.
2. Within 7 days of the appointment, the President must submit the nominee's name to the Parliament for approval and confirmation.
3. The Parliament votes to approve or not.

Responsibilities and Accountability

The Cabinet exercises its executive authority in conjunction with the President, as outlined in Article 115(f) for the proper functioning of his office.^[1]: 39 Further, the ministers are given responsibility for each institution and authority established by the government or the Parliament, excluding independent institutions.^{[1]: 50–51}

The Constitution outlines the general and executive authority of the Cabinet, and as under Article 132, these responsibilities include;^{[1]: 47–48}

• To recommend and assist the president in;
  • Determining the general policies of the State in all areas of government activity and to supervise and implement such policies in accordance with the Constitution.
  • Formulating the general policies of the government in National and International matters, and to direct, review and coordinate the political, economic, and social development of the Maldives.

• To advise and recommend draft bills and proposals to the president before the preparation of submission of such bills to the parliament.

• To direct, review and coordinate any work of the Government.

• To ensure good relations and smooth functioning between the Government and other organs of the State in their areas of responsibility.

• To prudently and carefully manage any of the assets of the State that is within their areas of responsibility.

• To promote, protect and uphold rule of law, and defend public safety and the public interest.

• To perform any other duties specifically authorised by the Constitution and as required by law where parliament has enacted any such law.

The Constitution also places restrictions on Cabinet members. Under Article 136, a member of the Cabinet may not hold another public office or office of profit, engage in business or professional practice, undertake other income-generating employment, or hold a financial interest in transactions involving the State.^[1]: 50 Article 138 further requires each Cabinet member to submit an annual declaration of property, business interests, assets and liabilities to the Auditor General.^[1]: 50 Article 140 provides that a member of the Cabinet is to be made responsible for each government authority or institution, other than independent institutions, and is accountable for its operation.^[1]: 50

Cabinet members are individually and collectively responsible to the President and also to the People's Majlis, and must provide information to the Majlis on matters under their jurisdiction when requested. Article 98 further states that the People's Majlis may require the presence of Cabinet members to answer questions posed and produce documents relating to the performance of their responsibilities.^[1]: 32

The Addressing of Questions to Cabinet Ministers Act 2005 regulates the procedure for questioning ministers in the People's Majlis. Under the Act, ministers may be questioned on matters falling within their official responsibilities and must inform the Majlis in writing of their ministry's responsibilities within 30 days of taking office. A member wishing to question a minister must give 14 days' written notice through the Speaker. Where a question does not require detailed figures or supporting information, the minister answers orally; where detailed material is required, the minister may provide an oral summary and submit the fuller information in writing.^[3]

If a minister refuses to answer, or is alleged to have misled the Majlis, the matter may give rise to a no-confidence motion. Under Article 101 of the Constitution, such a motion must be moved by at least ten members of the People's Majlis stating the reasons, the minister must be given at least 14 days' notice, and the minister has the right to defend himself orally and in writing before the Majlis.^{[1]: 34–35}

Parliament rejection

After Mohamed Muizzu appointed the members of the cabinet and sent them to the parliament, majority of the members were approved but three weren't. Ali Haidar Ahmed, Ahmed Usham, and Mohamed Shaheem were rejected by the parliament.^[12] The rejection later caused a brawl in parliament between the MPs.^[13] After the three ministers were rejected, Muizzu re-appointed them, which MPs called that Muizzu was undermining the power of the parliament.^[14] In the 20th parliament, the ministers were approved.^[15]

Mass Resignation over election loss and ministry merging

On 14 April 2026, as a result of the government's losses in the local election and including the constitutional referendum the following ten cabinet ministers resigned en masse:^[10]

• Foreign Minister Abdulla Khaleel
• Defence Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon
• Health Minister Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim,
• Family Development Minister Aishath Shiham
• Local Government Minister Adam Shareef
• Agriculture and Animal Welfare Minister Maryam Mariya
• Youth Minister Ibrahim Waheed
• Tourism Minister Thoriq Ibrahim
• Higher Education Minister Ali Haidar Ahmed
• Dhivehi Language Minister Adam Naseer Ibrahim

Afterwards, Muizzu appointed four new ministers and merged the remaining ministries to fifteen.^[11] He also abolished the Ministry of Cities, Local Government and Public Works.^[16] The merged ministries were:^[16][17]

• Ministry of Education and Ministry of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development
• Ministry of Health and Ministry of Social and Family Development
• Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation
• Ministry of Sports, Fitness and Recreation and Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts
• Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources and Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare
• Ministry of Tourism and Environment and Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation

Renamed ministries were:^[16][17][18]

• Ministry of Dhivehi Language, Culture and Heritage
• Ministry of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure
• Ministry of Defence

Cabinet of Ibrahim Mohamed Solih

Cabinet of Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom

Cabinet of Mohamed Waheed Hassan

Cabinet of Mohamed Nasheed

Cabinet of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom

Cabinet of Ministers of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's Government [85]
Office	Name	Term
President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and of the Police	Maumoon Abdul Gayoom	Nov. 11, 1978 – Nov. 11, 2008
Senior Minister	Dr. Mohamed Zahir Hussain
Senior Minister	Uz. Abdulla Hameed
Senior Minister	Umar Zahir
Senior Minister	Uz. Fathulla Jameel
Senior Minister	Ali Umar Maniku
Senior Minister	His Eminence Sheikh Dr. Mohamed Rasheed Ibrahim
Dhivehi Dhaulathuge Minister	Abdul Rasheed Hussain
Dhivehi Dhaulathuge Minister	Ibrahim Hussain Manik
Dhivehi Dhaulathuge Minister	Rashida Yousuf
Dhivehi Dhaulathuge Minister	Abbas Ibrahim
Minister for Presidential Affairs	Mohamed Hussain
Ministry of Defence and National Security	Ismail Shafeeu	Sep. 1, 2004 – Nov. 12, 2008
Ministry of Foreign Affairs	Fathulla Jameel Dr. Ahmed Shaheed Abdulla Shahid	Mar. 14, 1978 – Jul. 14, 2005 Jul. 15, 2005 – Aug. 21, 2007 Aug. 23, 2007 – Nov. 17, 2008
Ministry of Health	Ilyas Ibrahim
Ministry of Higher Education, Employment and Social Security	Dr. Ibrahim Hassan
Ministry of Atolls Development	Ahmed Thasmeen Ali
Ministry of Finance and Treasury	Maumoon Abdul Gayoom Arif Hilmy Mohamed Jaleel Qasim Ibrahim Abdulla Jihad	Jan. 5, 1989 – Nov. 11, 1993 Nov. 11, 1993 – May 31, 2000 Sep. 1, 2004 – Jul. 14, 2005 Aug. 18, 2005 – Jul. 15, 2008 Jul. 15, 2008 – Nov. 11, 2008
Ministry of Education	Mohamed Zahir Hussain Abdulla Hameed Mohamed Latheef Ismail Shafeeu Mahamood Shougee Zahiya Zareer	Jul. 23, 1979 - May. 30, 1990 May. 30, 1990 - Nov. 11, 1993 Nov. 11, 1993 - Oct. 9, 2002 Oct. 9, 2002 - Nov. 11, 2003 Nov. 11, 2003 - Jul. 14, 2005 Jul. 14, 2005 - Nov. 10, 2008
Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation	Ahmed Mujthaba Ismail Shafeeu Abdulla Jameel Ibrahim Hussain Zaki Hassan Sabir Dr. Musthafa Luthfee Dr. Mohamed Shaugee Dr. Abdulla Mausoom Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom	Jan. 5, 1989 – May 29, 1990 May 30, 1990 – May 26, 1991 May 27, 1991 – Nov. 10, 1993 Nov. 11, 1993 – Nov. 10, 1998 Nov. 11, 1998 – Sep. 14, 2004 Sep. 15, 2004 – Jul. 13, 2005 Jul. 14, 2005 – Jul. 14, 2008 Jul. 15, 2008 – Sep. 29, 2008 Sep. 2008 – Nov. 2008
Ministry of Planning and National Development	Hamdun Hameed
Ministry of Youth and Sports	Dr. Aishath Shiham
Ministry of Construction and Public Infrastructure	Mohamed Mauroof Jameel
Ministry of Gender and Family	Aishath Mohamed Didi
Ministry of Home Affairs	Umar Zahir Abdullah Jameel Ismail Shafeeu Umar Zahir Ahmed Thasmeen Ali Abdulla Kamaaluhdheen	Nov. 11, 1983 – Nov. 11, 1993 Nov. 11, 1993 – Nov. 11, 1998 Nov. 11, 1998 – Sep. 1, 2004 Sep. 1, 2004 – Jul. 14, 2005 Jul. 14, 2005 – Jun. 25, 2007 Jun. 25, 2007 – Nov. 2008
Ministry of Housing and Urban Development	Dr. Ali Haidhar Ahmed	Jul. 2008 – Oct. 2008
Ministry of Transport and Communication	Mohamed Saeed
Ministry of Environment, Energy and Water	Abdul Rasheed Hussain Ismail Shafeeu Ahmed Abdulla Abdulla Mausoom	Nov. 06, 1996 – Nov. 11, 1998 Nov. 11, 2003 – Sep. 1, 2004 Jul. 14, 2005 – Aug. 31, 2008 – Aug. 29, 2008 – Nov. 11, 2008
Ministry of Legal Reform, Information and Arts	Uz. Mohamed Nasheed
Attorney General	Ahmed Zaki Ahmed Zahir Dr. Mohamed Munavvar Dr. Hassan Saeed Uza. Aishath Azima Shakoor	Nov. 11, 1983 – Feb. 22, 1990 Feb. 22, 1990 – Mar. 27, 1991 Nov. 11, 1993 – Nov. 11, 2003 Nov. 11, 2003 – Aug. 5, 2007 Oct. 31, 2007 – Nov. 11, 2008
Ministry of Trade and Economic Development	Mohamed Jaleel