Minister Confirms 48 Political Appointees in Agriculture Ministry 

The Minister of Agriculture and Animal Welfare, Dr Maryam Mariya, has revealed that there are currently 48 political appointees employed within her Ministry. 

The disclosure came in response to a question posed by Keyodhoo MP Mohamed Niushad of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) during a recent parliamentary session.

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While the Minister confirmed the number of appointees, she did not provide further details regarding their roles or designations.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s administration had pledged to cap the number of political appointees at 700, a key commitment made during his presidential campaign. However, figures from reliable sources suggest the actual number may be significantly higher, estimated to range between 2,000 and 3,000.

In a move aimed at reducing government expenditure, President Muizzu announced on 15 October 2024 that 228 political appointees would be removed. This was followed by a press conference on 1 November 2024, where the President’s Office spokesperson, Heena Waleed, stated that a total of 248 political staff had been dismissed. These included seven state ministers, 43 deputy ministers, 103 senior political directors, and 69 political directors.

Despite repeated calls for transparency, the President’s Office has refused to disclose the full list of dismissed individuals. The refusal led to intervention by the Information Commissioner’s Office (iCOM), which ordered the release of the information. The government has since challenged the order in the High Court.

During a marathon 14-hour press conference on 3 May 2025, President Muizzu expressed surprise that the details of both current and dismissed political appointees were being withheld. He also stated that he was unaware of the High Court case concerning the matter. The President stressed that such information should not be kept confidential and assured the public that it would eventually be made available.

However, nearly two weeks after the press conference, the government has yet to release the requested details, raising further concerns over transparency and accountability.