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Ibrahim Mohamed Solih

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Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
އިބްރާހީމް މުޙައްމަދް ޞޯލިޙް
Official Portrait, 2018
7th President of the Maldives
In office
17 November 2018 (2018-11-17) – 17 November 2023 (2023-11-17)
Vice PresidentFaisal Naseem
Preceded byAbdulla Yameen
Succeeded byMohamed Muizzu
Member of the People's Majlis
In office
28 May 2009 – 16 November 2018
Preceded byConstituency created
Succeeded byJeehan Mahmood
ConstituencyHinnavaru
In office
1994 – 27 May 2009
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
ConstituencyLhaviyani Atoll
President of the Maldivian Democratic Party
In office
24 November 2023 – 20 February 2024
Preceded byMohamed Nasheed
Succeeded byAbdulla Shahid
Personal details
Born (1962-03-01) 1 March 1962 (age 62)
Hinnavaru, Maldives
Political partyMaldivian Democratic Party (after 2003)
Spouse
​
(m. 1992)​
Children2
Signature

Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (Dhivehi: އިބްރާހީމް މުޙައްމަދް ޞޯލިޙް; born 1 March 1962), commonly known as Ibu,[1] is a Maldivian politician[2] who served as president of the Maldives from 2018 to 2023.[3]

Solih was first elected to the People's Majlis in 1994, then aged 32 as the MP from his home atoll of Faadhippolhu. He played a leading role in the formation of the Maldivian Democratic Party[4] and the Maldives political reform movement from 2003 until 2008, which led to the country adopting a new modern constitution and the establishment of a multi-party democracy for the first time in its history. Solih was also a senior member of parliament[5] and the Special Majlis which wrote the country's constitution. Solih was elected president of Maldives on 23 September 2018 following the 2018 presidential election.[6]

Early and personal life

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Solih was born on 1 March 1962 in Hinnavaru, Maldives.[7][8] He moved to Malé at a young age for education, where he has been a resident ever since. He is one of 13 children. Solih completed his secondary education at Majeediyya School, Malé.[9] During his school days, he was a popular student and took part in several school activities, which especially applied to sports.[10] He is the first president of Maldives without any high education.[citation needed]

He is married to Fazna Ahmed and they have a daughter named Sarah and a son named Yaman.[2]

Solih has been associated with former president Mohamed Nasheed, who is also the first cousin of Solih's wife Fazna. Solih and Nasheed played an instrumental role in establishing multiparty democracy in the Maldives. After three years into his presidency, the relations between Solih and Nasheed collapsed due to ideological disputes within their party.[11] Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has been a senior figure in the party and lead the first parliamentary group of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) in 2009 until he was elected as the president of Maldives in 2018.[10]

Political career

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Solih has been the parliamentary group leader of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) since 2011.[4] He has also served as the leader of the joint parliamentary group since the opposition coalition was formed in March 2017.[12]

Solih was selected as the new presidential candidate[13] for the coalition of opposition parties in the 2018 election, when former president Mohamed Nasheed, due to his prior conviction, was not able to contest as a candidate for presidential election.[14]

Solih went on to claim an upset victory over Yameen, winning the election with 58.4% of the vote[15] and receiving nearly 38,500 votes more than his opponent. In the run-up to the election, many foreign observers had asserted that the election could be rigged in Yameen's favor and that he was thus likely to win a second term. However, when the counting of ballots was nearing completion on election night, President Yameen addressed the nation and conceded the election to Solih,[15] this being a few hours after the latter had claimed victory and urged the president for a peaceful transition of power.[16]

The main issue of the campaign has widely been recognized as the question of whether the Maldives should continue to pursue closer relations with China, as it had under Yameen’s administration, or whether it should instead turn to India and countries of the Western world (especially the United States), which is a direction more favoured by the MDP-led opposition coalition.[15]

Presidency

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Solih on the campaign trail as the opposition's presidential candidate in 2018

Solih assumed office on 17 November 2018, following the end of Abdulla Yameen's 5-year term. Solih became the 7th president of the Maldives, and the country's third democratically elected president, following Mohamed Nasheed and Abdulla Yameen, since Nasheed unseated Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in the 2008 election, ending the latter's 30-year long, six-term incumbency. Solih is the first Maldivian president to be born outside the capital of Malé, as well as the second-oldest person to assume the presidency, at the age of 54, with only Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik being older when taking office.[10]

On 19 November 2019, Solih announced that the Maldives would rejoin the Commonwealth of Nations, a decision recommended by his cabinet, considering that the Maldives was a republic in the Commonwealth of Nations from 1982 to 2016.[17] Solih became a Commonwealth head of government and a Commonwealth head of state when the Maldives returned to the Commonwealth on 1 February 2020.[18]

His government also sought to pursue closer relations with India. This was contrary to former president, Abdulla Yameen pursued closer relations with China, implicating India. Solih reaffirmed the country's previous "India-First Policy" stance in regards to the country's foreign affairs.[19]

In the April 2019 Maldivian parliamentary election, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) won in a landslide victory, winning 65 of 87 seats in the parliament. This was the first time a single party was able to get a supermajority in Maldivian history.[20]

In 2021, his government exceeded the target amount of tourists for that year and achieved 1.3 million tourists.[21]

In 2022, he started the Greater Malé Connectivity Project which links Malé, Villingili, Gulhifalhu, and Thilafushi.[22]

In 2023, he completed a vast amount of infrastructure projects in the different islands of the Maldive such as L. Hithadhoo, D. Hulhudheli, and more.[23][24][25][26] His government also resolved the 58-year-old boundary dispute between the Maldives and Mauritius at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) where they ruled in favor of the Maldives thus being given the bigger half.[27]

During the 2023 Maldivian presidential election, Solih was seeking reelection with a new running mate, Mohamed Aslam.[28] During which he lost to the opposition backed PNC-PPM's Mohamed Muizzu.[29]

Post-presidency

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During the 2024 Maldivian parliamentary election, Solih was campaigning for parliament majority for the 20th Parliament Session of the People's Majlis.[30] But unfortunately, his party got minority and the People's National Congress (PNC) got majority.[31]

Mohamed Solih with Fazna Ahmed during a visit to F.Nilandhoo, May 2023.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Who is Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, president-elect of the Maldives?". The Hindu. 24 September 2018. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b "The race of his life: An introduction to the Maldives' latest presidential hopeful". Maldives Independent. 2 July 2018. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  3. ^ "President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih". The President's Office. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Ibrahim Mohamed Solih". Maldivian Democratic Party. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  5. ^ "Chair announces Majority and Minority Leaders of the 18th People's Majlis". People's Majlis. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  6. ^ "Maldives election: Opposition defeats China-backed Abdulla Yameen". BBC News. 24 September 2018. Archived from the original on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  7. ^ "Social media frenzy: When is the President's birthday?". Sun. 1 January 2019. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  8. ^ "Index Sm-Ss". Rulers.org. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  9. ^ "National Archives of Maldives". archives.gov.mv. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  10. ^ a b c "Ayubowan Ibu! The new President of Maldives for a New Era in Democracy". YourTambapanni. 25 September 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2018.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ Faaiq, Ali (12 July 2021). "Nasheed announces political separation with President Solih". The Times of Addu. Archived from the original on 10 July 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  12. ^ "Joint Opposition Vows to Remain United and Oust President Yameen in 2018 Presidential Elections". Maldivian Democratic Party. 2 November 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  13. ^ Junayd, Mohamed (30 June 2018). "Maldives opposition selects veteran Ibrahim Solih for Sept presidential poll". Reuters. Archived from the original on 24 September 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  14. ^ Munavvar, Rae (1 July 2018). "MP Ibu declared MDP's Presidential Candidate". The Edition. Archived from the original on 17 November 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  15. ^ a b c "Maldives election: Opposition defeats China-backed Abdulla Yameen". BBC News. 24 September 2018. Archived from the original on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  16. ^ "Maldives election: Ibrahim Mohamed Solih claims victory". BBC News. 23 September 2018. Archived from the original on 9 May 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  17. ^ "Maldives to participate in the Commonwealth again". The President's Office. 19 November 2018. Archived from the original on 8 May 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  18. ^ "Maldives becomes 54th member of Commonwealth family". The Commonwealth. 1 February 2020. Archived from the original on 14 March 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  19. ^ Rajagopalan, Rajeswari (28 September 2018). "Maldives Shock Election: China's Loss and India's Win?". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  20. ^ "Majlis 19: An overview in numbers". Avas. 11 April 2019. Archived from the original on 26 May 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  21. ^ "President Solih Highlights Key Developments in Tourism Industry During Presidential Address". Travel Trade Maldives. 3 February 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  22. ^ Zalif, Zunana (26 August 2021). "Greater Malé Connectivity Project awarded to India's Afcons Infrastructure". Raajje TV. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  23. ^ "President Solih inaugurates completed infrastructure projects on L. Hithadhoo Island". The President's Office. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  24. ^ "President Solih inaugurates completion of infrastructure projects on Dh. Hulhudheli Island". The President's Office. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  25. ^ "The President inaugurates completion of infrastructure projects on N. Henbadhoo Island". The President's Office. 12 August 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  26. ^ "The President inaugurates the completion of several infrastructure projects on N. Manadhoo Island". The President's Office. 13 August 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  27. ^ Mohamed, Naizak (28 April 2023). "ITLOS concludes 58-year-long border dispute in favor of Maldives". Sun. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  28. ^ "President Solih picks Aslam as running mate". Sun. 5 August 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  29. ^ "Mohamed Muizzu wins Maldives election in victory for pro-China camp". Al Jazeera. 30 September 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  30. ^ "Winning parliament majority key to realigning gov't's trajectory: ex-Pres Solih". Avas. 7 March 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  31. ^ Ethirajan, Anbarasan (22 April 2024). "Maldives: Pro-China party led by Muizzu wins by landslide". BBC News. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
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Political offices
Preceded by President of the Maldives
2018–2023 		Succeeded by
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