Cabinet Approves Measures to Hold Referendum on Addu City Jurisdiction
During the cabinet meeting held in the President’s Office on October 5, 2025 | Photo: President’s Office
The Cabinet has decided to hold a referendum this month to determine whether three islands in Addu City should be separated and granted independent island councils.
During a meeting held yesterday, the Cabinet approved administrative measures to conduct the referendum in line with the Public Referendum Act, following a petition from residents seeking changes to the composition of the Addu City Council.
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The referendum will decide whether separate councils should be established for Addu Feydhoo, Addu Hulhudhoo, and Addu Meedhoo, or whether a single Addu Hulhumeedhoo Council should be formed to govern both Addu Hulhudhoo and Addu Meedhoo.
According to the President’s Office, the vote will be open to all registered voters in the constituency and is expected to take place on either 24 or 25 October.
The Cabinet also decided to deploy a ministerial-level delegation, led by the Ministry of Cities, Local Government and Public Works, and to form a technical team comprising experts familiar with Addu City. These teams will assess the potential administrative and socio-economic implications of any changes to the city’s jurisdiction.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has affirmed that the Government will remain impartial in the referendum. In a post on his official X account, the President stressed that the Administration has no preferred outcome and will fully respect and implement the decision made by the people.
އައްޑޫ ގެ ފޭދޫ، ހުޅުދޫ، މީދޫ ގައި ނަގާ ރިފަރަންޑަމް ވޯޓުގައި ސަރުކާރުގެ ވަކި ސްޓޭންޑެއްނެތް. ސަރުކާރުން އިޚްތިޔާރު ކުރާ ވަކި ނަތީޖާއެއްނެތް. ރައްޔިތުންގެ މެޖޯރިޓީ އިން ނިންމަވާ ކޮންމެ ނިންމުމެއް ސަރުކާރުން ތަންފީޒުކުރާނެ. https://t.co/MoijCYexkC— Dr Mohamed Muizzu (@MMuizzu) October 5, 2025
“The government does not take a separate position on referendum votes in Feydhoo, Hulhudhoo, and Meedhoo in Addu. There is no particular outcome preferred by the government. It will carry out every decision made by the majority of the people,” President Muizzu stated in Dhivehi on X.
The referendum aims to ensure that residents of Addu City have a direct say in determining the structure and governance of their local councils.
