ISAS South Asia Scan

In 2018, the Maldives removed President Abdulla Yemeen, who ruled the country as an authoritarian since 2013. During his term, the civil and political rights of the citizens were curtailed. Also, several leaders from the opposition parties as well as several political and civil right activists were tortured, beaten or incarcerated. To silence the dissenters, Yameen imposed emergency rule twice, the first in 2015 followed by the second in 2018. This publication briefly touches on the political history of the Maldives. It then examines recent domestic socio-economic political developments in the country as well as its foreign policy imperatives.