Former President Solih Says Charges Against Thinadhoo City Mayor Are Politically Motivated

Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has described the charges against Thinadhoo City Mayor Saud Ali as politically motivated, while opposition figures have criticised the case as an attempt to intimidate elected representatives and weaken the decentralisation system.

In a post on X, Solih said the lawsuit, which he described as stemming from personal jealousy, would not prevent Mayor Saud from serving the people of Thinadhoo.

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He also criticised what he described as attempts to intimidate elected representatives, weaken the decentralisation system and centralise powers within the national government.

ތިނަދޫ ސިޓީގެ މޭޔަރު ސައުދު ޢަލީގެ (@saudalye) މައްޗަށް އުފުލާފައިވާ ދަޢުވާއަކީ ކަނޑައެޅިގެން ސިޔާސީ ކުލަ ޖެހި، ވަކި ބައެއްގެ މަޞްލަޙަތަށްޓަކައި އުފުލާފައިވާ ދަޢުވާއެއް. ޒާތީ ޙަސަދަ އެކުލެވިފައިވާ މިފަދަ ދަޢުވާއަކުން މޭޔަރު ސައުދު ތިނަދޫ ކުރިއެރުވުމަށް، ތިނަދޫ ސިޓީގެ…— Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (@ibusolih) September 3, 2026

The Prosecutor General’s Office has charged Saud over allegations that he submitted a false population list to the Local Government Authority (LGA) on 4 September 2022 in an attempt to show that Thinadhoo’s population had reached 10,000, the threshold required for city status.

According to the prosecution, the list contained information about deceased individuals and other information that could not be verified.

The prosecution further alleged that, after the LGA requested a valid list containing the identification card numbers of the individuals included, Saud signed a letter on 13 August 2023 submitting a list that again contained the names and information of people registered in other islands.

The Prosecutor General’s Office said the requested population information was not subsequently provided and alleged that Saud also gave false information to police by claiming that the relevant records had not been maintained.

The charges have drawn criticism from several opposition figures.

Former President and opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed also called for the charges against Saud to be withdrawn, describing the case as politically motivated. Nasheed said the intimidation of elected representatives was unacceptable.

Thinadhoo city ge mayor @SaudAlye ge ma’chah ufulaafaivaa siyaasee dhauva ambura gendhan sarukaarah govaalan! Inthikhaabee council thakah jaluge biru dhekkun balaeh nuganeveyne.— Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) September 1, 2026

Malé Mayor Adam Azim has also criticised the charges, saying they represented an attempt to undermine the decentralisation system.

ގދ. ތިނަދޫ ސިޓީ މޭޔަރ ސަޢުދު ޢަލީގެ މައްޗަށް މިހާރު ހިންގަމުންދަނީ އެއްވެސް އަސްލެއް އަދި އަސާސެއް ނެތް، ސިޔާސީ ގޮތުން ރޭވިގެން ހިންގާ ބޭއިންސާފު ތަޙުޤީޤުތަކެއް. ސައުދުގެ މައްޗަށް ކޮށްފައިވާ ދޮގު ދަޢުވާތައް ވަގުތުން ވަގުތަށް އަނބުރާ ގެންދިއުމަށް އަޅުގަނޑު ގޮވާލަން.
މި ފިޔަވަޅަކީ… pic.twitter.com/He6fEnHCJN— Adam Azim, Mayor of Male’ City (@adamazim) September 1, 2026

Saud is the first elected mayor of Thinadhoo City. He was re-elected as mayor in the local council elections held in April this year.