President Solih Wins Maldives Primary Amidst Political Tensions

30-01-2023

Héloïse Regnault de Montgon

East & South Asia Human Rights Researcher 

Global Human Rights Defence

On January 29th, 2023, the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) declared President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to be the winner of the country’s primary, with 61 percent of the votes (Rasheed, 2023). Solih beat former president and childhood friend Mohamed Nasheed, who had become the Maldives’ first democratically elected president between 2008 and 2012. Nasheed, who was hoping for a comeback after his exile under President Abdula Yameen’s presidency, alleged fraud and has not conceded to Solih’s victory (Rasheed, 2023).

Solih and Nasheed were initially political allies. They both united against Yameen, who forced political opponents into exile and organised crackdowns against protesters. While in exile, Nasheed agreed to Solih’s candidacy to defeat Yameen in his place, which he subsequently won. After the election, Nasheed returned to the Maldives and won a parliamentary election (Rasheed, 2023).

However, Nasheed parted ways with Solih and condemned his “inaction” on issues of corruption or the rise of groups affiliated with ISIL and al-Qaeda. On Saturday, Nasheed’s campaign issued a statement alleging voters’ fraud: “We are noticing that Nasheed is ahead in most of the ballot boxes, and his opponent is leading because of a few boxes where an extraordinary amount of votes have been cast” (Rasheed, 2023). Following this statement, voting was briefly suspended in some poll stations as fistfights broke in four polling stations. Although the polls were not majorly disturbed, this incident illustrates the tensions that have arised in the country’s nascent democracy (Rasheed, 2023).

The right to vote freely is protected by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which the Maldives ratified in 2006 (UN Treaty Bodies, n.d.). Article 25(b) of the ICCPR states: “Every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity: [...] (b) To vote [...] at genuine periodic elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors” (UN Human Rights, 1966). Interfering with elections, including via voter fraud, but also by troubling the polling process and inciting voters to violence is a violation of Article 25 of the ICCPR.

Five years after the end of President Yameen’s autocratic rule, democracy in the Maldives is still being consolidated. After his victory on Sunday, President Solih stated during a speech in the capital Male’: “Our rivalry is now over. Now is the time to unite and work together to win the upcoming presidential election for the MDP” (Rasheed, 2023).

Sources:

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. (2022). BOOK OF CONDOLENCE[Photography]. Flickr. https://flic.kr/p/2nMt9w3. 

Rasheed, Z. (2023, January 29). Maldives on edge after bitterly fought presidential primary. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/1/29/maldives-on-edge-after-bitterly-fought-presidential-primary.

United Nations. (n.d) Ratification Status for the ICCPR. UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies. https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/TreatyBodyExternal/Treaty.aspx.

United Nations. (1966, December 16). International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. UN Human Rights. https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-rights-child.