Gov’t Still Withholds Details of Political Appointees
President Muizzu with ministers during a cabinet meeting at the President’s Office | Photo: The President’s Office
The government has once again failed to release the details of political appointees, more than a week after President Dr Mohamed Muizzu stated that the information would be made public.
During a 14-hour-long press conference held on 3 May, President Muizzu stated that he had not been aware that the details of current and dismissed political appointees were being withheld as confidential.
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He stressed that the information should not be kept from the public and said his office would provide it in writing. The President also claimed he was unaware that the matter had been the subject of a High Court case filed by his administration challenging a disclosure order.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (iCOM) had earlier instructed the President’s Office to release the details of both current and dismissed political appointees. Although the government initially challenged this order at the High Court, it withdrew the appeal following widespread public criticism. Despite this, a new case has now been filed with the High Court, again contesting the obligation to disclose the information.
Capping the number of political appointees at 700 was a prominent campaign pledge by President Muizzu. However, estimates from reliable sources suggest the actual figure lies between 2,000 and 3,000 appointees.
On 15 October 2024, President Muizzu announced the dismissal of 228 political staff as part of the government’s cost-cutting measures. This was followed by a press conference on 1 November, during which 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 these public announcements, the government has not released the names or further details of those dismissed, in defiance of the disclosure order issued by iCOM on 23 January 2025.
The continuing refusal to share this information, even after the President’s stated commitment to transparency, has drawn renewed scrutiny of the administration’s approach to accountability and its handling of Right to Information requests.
