Maldives

Formerly a British colony, the Maldives became an independent nation in 1965. The country’s constitution has been amended a total of six times—the most recent of these, in 2008, was an attempt to improve democratic norms, the rule of law, and judicial independence. As the country transitioned to democracy, Mohamed Nasheed became the first freely elected president that same year. In 2013, Abdulla Yameen was elected president and led the country through a period of increasing authoritarianism until the end of his term in 2018. During his tenure, the Maldives left the Commonwealth over foreign criticism of the status of its democratic institutions, individual freedoms, and the rule of law. In 2018, the political crisis worsened over President Yameen’s refusal to comply with a judicial ruling ordering the release of political dissidents from prison; many had also disappeared or been killed. That same year, opposition parties united in a successful effort to oust Yameen from power. The new government has made strides in improving democratic norms and strengthening the rule of law. In 2020, it rejoined the Commonwealth after evidence of successful reforms.  

Corruption is frequently a major issue in the Maldives, as numerous leaders have been implicated in various money laundering and bribery scandals in recent years. Issues of religious identity have also divided Maldivian society, as the Parliament has taken steps to solidify Islam’s status as the state religion. On gender equality, the Maldives’ performance has been static at the lower-mid range over the past decades. Despite some progress achieved through laws and measures promoting gender equality, long-standing provisions remain discriminatory against women. Gender-based violence is widespread and women remain underrepresented in politics. Also concerning is rising religious fundamentalism, which impedes the achievement of gender equalityy, as well as discrimination and arrests targeting LGBTQIA+ individuals.  

The islands of the Maldives are spread out across a series of low-lying atolls in the Indian Ocean. As a result, the country is one of the most heavily impacted by the effects of climate change. If current trends hold, 80% of the islands are projected to be uninhabitable by 2050. Beach erosion and plastic waste generated by development further center environmental concerns in the country’s political debates. 

It will be important to watch whether recent improvements continue, especially as significant human rights concerns persist. Recent incidents of prisoner torture and death in Maldivian custody are of concern. Fortunately, progress has been made in several key areas, especially with regards to countering violent extremism.