Nepotism rampant in Maldives President Nasheed’s Government

The 6 month old government of Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed is at present struggling with economic, social and political woes mainly of its own making. Insiders blame President Nasheed’s heavy handed control of his top heavy political administration for the mismanagement of the budget, impractical whole sale changes to the administrative structure, collapse of social and welfare services and the failing economy.

The high profile faces of Nasheed’s top political appointees show a dominance of close relatives, interspersed with failed politicians and front line radicals from his party Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). MDP sources report that this dominance of close relatives of President Nasheed, Vice President Dr Waheed and party Chairman Mariya Didi is at the root of emerging deep cracks in the MDP’s general membership. In addition to its inexperience, another factor contributing to Nasheed’s government’s continual mistakes and failures is apparently the lack of cohesion and cooperation in its front ranks. Most political appointees reportedly answer only to President Nasheed and do not undertake any action unless directly ordered by him.

Following are some examples of the rampant nepotism and cronyism in President Nasheed’s struggling government.

1. Housing, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Aslam is married to President Nasheed's 2nd cousin Naseema’s daughter Aishath Rameeza. (Aishath Rameeza is daughter of Naseema & Beru Ramzee ).
2. Health Minister Aminath Jameel is married to Sikka Mohamed Ismail Maniku (kuda Sikka), whose elder brother is Sikka Ahmed Ismail Maniku (Bodu Sikka - the convicted November 3rd terrorist leader) who is married to President Nasheed’s aunt (father’s own sister).
3. President Nasheed’s close friend DIK Ali Hashim is Finance Minister, and Acting Attorney General.
4. President Nasheed's father is second cousin to Kerafa Ahmed Naseem, State Minister for Foreign Affairs.
5. President Nasheed’s classmate and close friend Dr Hussain Rasheed Hassan is State Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture.
6. Finance Minister Ali Hashim’s business partner Mahmood Raazee is State Minister for Civil Aviation. Razee is the nominee to take the Civil Aviation Minister’s portofolio.
7. Transport Minister Aslam’s younger brother Assad is State Minister for Finance.
8. President Nasheed’s classmate and close friend, Ahmed Muizzu, is Prosecutor General.
9. President Nasheed’s classmate and close friend Husnu Suood is President Nasheed’s nominee for Chief Justice. Suood is also Prosecutor General Muizzu’s long time business partner in their joint law firm. Soood’s brother-in-law, Dr. Abdul Majeed is the Minister for Islamic Affairs.
10. President Nasheed’s nominee for Speaker of Parliament, his cousin Fazna Ahmed’s husband Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, is MDP MP for Lhaviyani Hinnavaru. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is also brother of President Nasheed’s long-time lover Fathmath Solih. Ibrahim Solih is also President Nasheed’s class mate and best friend. His wife Fazna Ahmed’s mother is President Nasheed’s aunt. Fazna’s father is Bodu Sikka, the convicted November 3rd terrorist.
11. President Nasheed’s cousin by marriage Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s younger brother Niyaz Solih is Deputy State Minister for Medhu Uthuru Province.
12. President Nasheed’s cousin by marriage Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s elections’ campaign manager Mohamed Mahir is Counselor for Lhaviyani Atoll.
13. President Nasheed's cousin, Eva Abdulla (his aunt Zuheyra's daughter), is MDP MP for Galolhu constituency.
14. Eva Abdulla’s husband Saabe was, until last month, Deputy Chair of the Elections Commission. Saabe and Housing Minister Aslam are business partners.
15. Saabe’s father Ogaru Mohamed Fulhu (loan shark & businessman) is Deputy Mayor for Male’.
16. President Nasheed’s uncle by marriage and Eva Abdulla’s father Deyliya Abdulla Mohamed’s younger sister Rugiyya (also Ibrahim Solih’s cousin) is MDP MP for Vaavu Atoll. Deyliya is also President Nasheed’s best friend Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s cousin.
17. Rugiyya’s husband Thoyyib is State Minister for Information and Arts. Thoyyib grew up in President Nasheed’s aunt’s household, Dheeframaage.
18. President Nasheed’s uncle by marriage (Eva Abdulla’s father) Deyliya’s second wife Maizan Khadeeja’s brother Maizan Adam Maniku is State Minister for Housing, Infrastructure and Transport.
19. President Nasheed’s classmate and close friend Ali Shiyam is Economic Advisor to the President. Ali Shiyam is also the head of President Nasheed’s Witch Hunt Commission.
20. Ali Shiyam’s brother Ahmed Hamza was President Nasheed’s nominee for Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
21. Ali Shiyam’s borther Jihad was MDP candidate for Faafu Nilandhoo constituency.
22. MDP Chairperson Mariya's sister Ashiya Ahmed Didi’s ex-husband Dr. Ahmed Shaheed is Foreign Minister.
23. MDP Chairperson Mariya's sister, Haula Ahmed Didi, is Deputy Foreign Minister.
24. MDP Chairperson Mariya's sister Rugiya Ahmed Didi is President Nasheed's private secretary.
25. MDP Chairperson Mariya's sister Rugiyya’s ex-husband Umaru Jamaal is State Minister for Gaafu Dhaalu Province.
26. MDP Chairperson Mariya's brother-in-law Ahmed Latheef (married to Fazeena Ahmed Didi) is the Maldivian High Commissioner in Beijing.
27. MDP Chairperson Mariya's nephew (Latheef’s and Fazeena’s son) Mifzal Ahmed is Advisor on Investments.
28. MDP Chairperson Mariya’s sister Fazeena’s brother-in-Law Hassan Latheef is the Minster of Youth & Sports.
29. MDP Chairperson Mariya's sister-in-law Farahanaz Faisal is the Maldivian High Commissioner in UK.
30. Farahanaz Faisal's brother Ameen Faisal is the Defence Minister as well as Acting Home Minister.
31. Farahanaz Faisal’s sister Shuweykaar’s husband Ahmed Rasheed is the Chief of Protocol.
32. MDP Chairperson Mariya's brother-in-law Falaah (ex husband Abdul Sattar Ali’s brother) was MDP candidate for Maafannu Dhekunu constituency, but lost that seat.
33. Auditor General Maakun Ibrahim Naeem is Falah’s cousin.
34. Vice President Dr. Mohamed Waheed's brother-in-law Bigey was MDP candidate for Raa Alifushi constitutency, but lost that seat. Bigey was a Nasheed’s appointee as President’s Member in the last Parliament.
35. Vice President Dr Waheed's brother-in-law Ilyaas Hussein is the Controller of Immigration.
36. Vice President Dr Waheed's brother-in-law Naushaad Waheed is the Councilor at the Maldivian High Commission in UK.
37. Vice President Dr Waheed's brother-in-law Hussein Shihaab is the Maldivian High Commissioner in Saudi Arabia.
38. Vice President Dr Waheed's brother-in-law Hussein Shihaab’s brother Mohamed Shihab was Speaker of Parliament in the recently dispersed interim Parliament. He is now nominated for the post of Minister of Home Affairs.

The above list is just a sampler, quite a remarkable achievement for a President who campaigned against cronyism, nepotism and corruption.