The Maldives United Opposition was a Maldivian political coalition consisting of political parties with different political ideologies. It was established in June 2016 with the goal of removing president Abdulla Yameen. It was dissolved in 2018, after Yameen lost the 2018 presidential election.
History In London, rival opposition groups of the government, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Adhaalath Party (AP), as well as former deputies of president Abdulla Yameen's cabinet, as well as former defence minister Mohamed Nazim, formed the Maldives United Opposition. The party established Mohamed Jameel Ahmed as the leader of the party.
Rallies and protests
First rally In 2016, the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure originally granted MDP a permit to hold a rally in Malé, but later withdrew it, the minister Mohamed Muizzu saying that it was granted to MDP and not "some group called the united coalition". The MUO later rescheduled the rally to the 21st, but later cancelled due to bad weather. Opposition MP Ahmed Mahloof and others were arrested for promoting the rally using a megaphone on a parked pickup truck. The rally took place at the MDP meeting hall and thousands of supporters came. Riot police was blocking Majeedhee Magu and pushing people onto the pavement. Many were arrested including Ahmed Mahloof, and foreigners.
MUO has seen low turnout at its later rallies, MUO spokesman Ali Zahir saying that the people are scared to come out.
Surprise protest On 31 August 2016, hundreds of protesters marched with raincoats in Malé, demanding the resignation of Abdulla Yameen as president of the Maldives. Riot police soon arrived and pepper sprayed the crowd and dispersed the gathering.
Shadow cabinet MUO wanted the government of Abdulla Yameen to resign and to form an interim government. So, MUO created a shadow cabinet, so when Abdulla Yameen's government resigns, MUO's shadow cabinet will take over as the interim government.
The following shows the shadow cabinet members and their positions: +NamePositionMohamed Jameel AhmedLeader of the Maldives United OppositionAli WaheedDeputy Leader of the Maldives United OppositionAbdulla AmeenShadow Minister of Defence and National SecurityMohamed ShihabShadow Minister of Finance and TreasuryAhmed Thasmeen AliShadow Minister of Home AffairsAhmed NaseemShadow Minister of Foreign AffairsAdam AzimShadow Minister of Trade and TransportMohamed AslamShadow Minister of Environment, Clean Energy, and Waste ManagementHisaan HussainShadow Minister of Judicial ReformAhmed NasheedShadow Minister of Housing and InfrastructureShifa MohamedShadow Minister of EducationMustafa LutfiShadow Minister of Higher EducationMohamed ShifazShadow Minister of Youth and SportsAbdul Majeed Abdul BariShadow Minister of Islamic AffairsHassan LatheefShadow Minister of Civil RightsGais NaseerShadow Minister of Local Government and DecentralisationIbrahim AmeerShadow Minister of International Financial Agreements, Fisheries and AgricultureShidhatha ShareefShadow Minister of Health, Social Protection and GenderMohamed Maleeh JamalShadow Minister of Resort & Guesthouse TourismAli NiyazShadow Minister of Elections Commission & Independent Institutions ReformHussain ShameemShadow Minister of Constitutional ReformAhmed MahloofSpokesperson for the United Opposition
2018 presidential election After Mohamed Nasheed withdrew his candidacy for president, the MOU agreed on Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. MDP's presidential ticket was given to Solih.
Member parties Maldivian Democratic Party Adhaalath Party Jumhooree Party Maldives Reform Movement
References