New president replaces autocratic leader in the Maldives

MALE, Maldives (AP) — Ibrahim Mohamed Solih took over as president of the Maldives on Saturday following a fierce political discord caused by the autocratic rule of outgoing leader Yameen Abdul Gayoom. Thousands of people cheered Solih, from the Maldivian Democratic Party, at a swearing-in ceremony in a soccer stadium chosen to accommodate a large number of his supporters. Solih also established a committee for the liberation of political prisoners which led to the release of former Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed, former Justice Ali Hameed, former Prosecutor General Muhthaz Muhsin and former magistrate Ahmed Nihan from house arrest on November 19, according to the Maldives Independent. The Maldives, an Indian Ocean archipelago known for its luxury resorts, became a multiparty democracy in 2008. Since getting elected in 2013, Yameen had cracked down on political dissent, jailing rivals and Supreme Court justices. But he suffered an unexpected defeat at the hands of Solih in September's presidential election. Neighboring India has been concerned by a growing Chinese influence under Yameen, who signed a series of infrastructure projects with Beijing. At a special session of parliament held at the National Football Stadium in the capital Male, Solih was sworn in with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi among those in attendance. Modi is trying to reset bilateral ties that suffered during Yameen's rule. Solih faces a challenging task of balancing ties with powerful India and China. He will also have to battle widespread corruption and rising Islamist extremism. Yameen's attempt to cling to power was dashed by the Supreme Court, which dismissed his petition seeking an annulment of the election result. His party challenged the result, alleging vote rigging, fraud and corruption in the election process. Solih was chosen as the opposition candidate in July after exiled former President Mohamed Nasheed abandoned plans to run because of a past criminal conviction that made him ineligible. Mahinda Rajapakse, Sri Lanka’s prime minister when Colombo took out the loans, is looking to return to power in the severe current political crisis gripping the island nation.
President of the Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and his Cabinet announce that the Maldives is set to return to be a member of the Commonwealth of Nations as a Commonwealth republic.