‘The Gov’t Simply Do Not Want Development Work in Addu,’ Mayor Frustrated by Savaaheli Removal

Addu City Mayor Ali Nizar has accused the government of removing Savaaheli from the Addu City Council’s jurisdiction to prevent the council from developing Addu for the benefit of the people.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu amended Addu City’s administrative jurisdiction yesterday, excluding Savaaheli, and island south of Maradhoo-Feydhoo, from the city’s administrative area, citing to facilitate tourism development. The change came four days after the council invited investors to submit expressions of interest for the development and operation of an entertainment and recreational facility on the island.

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“The government is removing [Savaaheli] from the council to prevent that from happening. There is nothing else to say about it. The government simply does not want any development work to be done in Addu. Doing nothing—even right now, they are doing nothing. Nothing is happening, and they are even stopping what is set to happen.”

The mayor said Addu’s tourism sector was developing rapidly, with work on nearly 1,000 new tourism beds underway in Feydhoo. 

“I thought if we developed this place in connection with that area, further progress and additional services could be provided,” he said.

He added that it is not only the government that is working to block Addu’s development and progress. 

“It is not just the government. It also includes the Members of Parliament belonging to the government. Together with them, this is something the government is doing to ensure nothing happens in Addu,” he said.

The council’s invitation sought expressions of interest for the development of 79,753.74 square metres of land, or 858,462.11 square feet, along with the allocated lagoon area around Savaaheli. The intended lease period was 50 years.

The proposed investment was to include the development, operation and maintenance of entertainment and recreational facilities, including a beach area, public access to and from Savaaheli, water sports and marine recreational activities, swimming pools, indoor and outdoor games, public amenities, food and beverage services and other complementary facilities.

The President made the amendment through Decree No. 13/2026, issued under Section 56-1(a) of the Decentralisation Act (Act No. 7/2010). The provision empowers the President to determine and designate the administrative jurisdictions of city and island councils.

As the island is designated for tourism development, its jurisdiction will now fall under the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation.

The government has subsequently published a revised chart reflecting the amended administrative boundaries of Addu City in the Government Gazette.