hajam.ai
18 September 2026

Politics

At a ceremony held on the night of September 18, 2026, to mark the successful conclusion of the PNC Congress, the 2028 presidential ticket was officially conferred upon President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu without a primary, following the unanimous consensus of the party's 1,119 delegates. Speaking on PNF platforms, former President Abdulla Yameen pointed to economic issues and the dollar shortage, heavily criticizing the administration by stating that a silent revolution is brewing within the government and that President Muizzu will not secure a 2028 term. On the other hand, information has surfaced that former Vice President Faisal Naseem has expressed interest in contesting the 2028 MDP presidential primary and is holding discussions with former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

At the special closing ceremony of the governing People's National Congress (PNC) congress held on the night of Friday, September 18, 2026, at the Social Centre, the PNC ticket for the upcoming 2028 presidential election was officially presented to the party's president and President of the Republic, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. Following the unanimous approval by the delegates participating in the congress to grant this ticket to President Muizzu without an internal primary, the presidential ticket was handed over to him by the party's chairperson and Speaker of the People's Majlis, Abdul Raheem Abdulla. In addition, the oath-taking of individuals elected to various positions through the party's congress was also carried out during this ceremony. While accepting the ticket presented to him, President Muizzu expressed his gratitude for the trust shown by the party members, and assured that he would forcefully carry forward his efforts for the advancement of the nation and the benefit of the people.

On Friday, 18 September 2026, former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom heavily criticized the current government and President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, and spoke regarding the political activities of the People's National Front (PNF). Speaking on the conduct of PNF's affairs and the party's future, he directed direct criticism toward various government policies. Furthermore, expressing concern over the current situation of the country and the way the government makes decisions, President Yameen highlighted the importance of strengthening the PNF's role as an opposition political party.

Former Vice President Faisal Naseem has decided to contest in the primary to secure the opposition MDP's presidential ticket for the upcoming 2028 presidential election. In connection with this decision, members of Faisal's team have held meetings and initiated discussions to seek the support of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. Moreover, rumors have also circulated that if he wins this primary, Male' City Mayor Adam Azim might be appointed as Faisal's running mate. In addition, senior party leaders such as Abdulla Shahid and Fayyaz Ismail have also now revealed that they will contest the 2028 MDP primary.

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Also in this edition

Economy

Following the Maldivian government's repayment of the final $50 million of the $150 million treasury bill issued to the Maldives through the State Bank of India (SBI), India's Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed on September 18, 2026, that the Indian government had paid approximately $45 million incurred as interest over the past five years. As the Bank of Maldives (BML) prioritised essential needs to maintain dollar liquidity and set a $16 million monthly ceiling for e-commerce transactions, businesses have faced significant delays in transferring dollars to other banks and abroad.

Health

Dharumavantha Hospital has revealed that out of 35 successful cases of IVF performed through its National Fertility Centre, 27 babies have been born so far. Amidst an extreme shortage of essential medicines across the Maldives leading to an increase in public complaints, Health Minister Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim stated that by November 2026, arrangements will be made to import and provide all essential medicines through "State Pharma", a company established by separating pharmacies from STO to resolve the issue. Regarding the issue of medication shortages in pharmacies, the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) has instructed pharmacies to stock at least 80 percent of the medicines included in the Revised Essential Medicines List within the upcoming six months.

Education

While the Ministry of Islamic Affairs has gazetted the policy regarding awarding the President's Special Scholarship to the overall first-place winners of the National Quran Competition, it has been decided under this policy to provide major benefits, including the opportunity to study up to the PhD level, a monetary prize of MVR 100,000 as the President's Special Award, MVR 75,000 granted by the Islamic Ministry, and an Umrah trip to the first-place winners in the recitation by looking, recitation by heart, and Hafiz categories.