Mohamed Muizzu

Dr Mohamed Muizzu (born 15 June 1978) is a Maldivian politician who is the 9th and current president of the Maldives since 2023.

He previously served as Housing Minister and was the Mayor of Malé from 2021 until his resignation in 2023.

He was selected for his party's nomination after former president Abdulla Yameen was jailed for serious corruption charges.

He was chosen as his successor since Abdulla Yameen was ineligible to run for elections.

He was the People's National Congress candidate for the 2023 presidential election, in which he defeated then-president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Muizzu went to Majeediyya School, the oldest school in Maldives.

He earned his bachelor's and master's degree in structural engineering at the University of London, and he earned his PhD in civil engineering at the University of Leeds.

He began working for the government in 1998, as a Construction & Public Works Planning Technician Trainee at the Ministry of Construction and Public Works.

His PhD thesis concerned "Thermal and time-dependent effects on monolithic reinforced concrete roof slab-wall joints" and was awarded in 2009.

He has also attained Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from America's Project Management Institute (PMI).

In 2012, Muizzu assumed the role of Minister of Housing and Environment during the administration of President Waheed as a member of the Adhaalath Party.

He continued in this post after the 2013 Presidential Election under President Abdulla Yameen's administration.

By this time Muizzu was a member of the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA), part of a coalition government.

The Ministry of Housing and Environment was later restructured and renamed as the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure during his five-year term in office.

During this time, Muizzu oversaw several infrastructure projects including the Sinamalé Bridge.

The bridge connected the capital city of Malé to the Velana International Airport on the island of Hulhulé, and is the first inter-island bridge in Maldivian history.

The rest of his term as Minister saw further infrastructure projects completed, including the construction of numerous harbors, jetties, parks, mosques, public buildings, sporting facilities, and roads.

Muizzu also oversaw the introduction of modern asphalt paving techniques on the streets of Malé, and the implementation of new building and maintenance codes.

Muizzu also served as the Governor of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in 2017.

Following the 2018 presidential election, Muizzu left the MDA and joined the party of the outgoing president, the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).

In 2019, Muizzu was appointed the vice-president and the head of the Elections Department of the then-opposition (PPM).

In 2021, Muizzu was elected mayor of Malé defeating the candidate from the then-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party with a vote of 12470.

Muizzu was the First Mayor of Malé, to be directly elected by the people of Malé.

He also became the First Mayor of Malé to be elected for a 5-year term.

After 11 Years and 3 consecutive terms of rival Maldivian Democratic Party's control over Malé city council.

Muizzu was elected to Mayor from Progressive Party of Maldives.

During his Mayor term, Muizzu Kept working closely with the people in Malé, making house calls to gain a better understanding of the living conditions in Malé, and actively advocating for decentralization and empowerment of local bodies.

Muizzu was the Mayor of Malé from 17 May, 2021 until his resignation on 17 November, 2023

After Muizzu the became the President–Elect, Deputy Mayor Ahmed Nareesh was handed the responsibilities of the Mayor of Malé City and was the Acting Mayor of Malé.

After ruling Malé for 2 Years and 184 Days, Muizzu Resigned as Mayor of Malé on 17 November 2023.

The decision was made following his taking oath of office as president on 17 November 2023.

On 5 October 2023 Muizzu was appointed as the president of People's National Congress, he assumed the role upon his victory in the presidential election.

and on december 2023, Muizzu was appointed as the president of PNC's sister party, Progressive Party of Maldives following former party leader, Abdulla Yameen left the party on November 23 to create his own political party.

Following the conviction of former president and opposition leader Abdulla Yameen for embezzlement, Muizzu was nominated as the presidential candidate for the People's National Congress (PNC), part of the opposition coalition, with MP Hussain Mohamed Latheef as his running mate.

In the first round of the 2023 Maldivian presidential election, he received 46.06% of the vote, a plurality, and advanced to the second round on 30 September 2023.

He was elected president in the second round, winning 54.04% against the incumbent Solih's 46.04%.

Muizzu was sworn in as the new president on 17 November 2023.

Muizzu has also pledged to release former President Yameen from prison.

On November 17, 2023, President Muizzu was sworn in as the 9th President of the Republic of Maldives; the fourth to be democratically elected, he is also the 6th person from Malé to become president.

On 26 November 2023, Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed went on their first official trip to Turkey.