Maldives - April 2026

On 4 April 2026, Maldives held a constitutional referendum alongside Local Council and Women’s Development Committee elections. Voters were asked whether to approve an amendment to align presidential and parliamentary elections and shorten the current parliamentary term. The proposal was rejected, with 68.7 per cent voting against and turnout at 75.0 per cent. The referendum followed the passage of the amendment bill in Parliament and a presidential decree requiring public approval. Election observers, including ANFREL, noted the complexity of the triple-ballot process and raised pre-election concerns regarding voter information, ballot secrecy and campaign conditions. The vote was the first held under the Public Referendum Act and the first nationwide referendum since 2007.

Sources: ANFREL, Maldives Independent

On 27 April 2026, police raided the offices of independent news outlet Adhadhu, seizing journalists’ equipment and data under a court order. Authorities also imposed travel bans on senior staff and pursued criminal charges linked to the outlet’s reporting on allegations involving the president. In early May, two journalists from Adhadhu were detained and briefly jailed on arbitrary contempt of court charges, and courts issued orders restricting discussion of related reporting. Rights experts and international organizations raised concerns about procedural safeguards, including limited time to secure legal representation, the conduct of hearings without adequate defence, and the use of closed proceedings, raising questions regarding due process and fair trial guarantees. The developments represent an escalation in state actions affecting independent media and undermining press freedom in the Maldives.

Sources: Human Rights Watch,  Committee for Protecting Journalists, Transparency Maldives (1), Transparency Maldives (2)