Changes to MNDF's Special Protection Group under President Solih's directive

President Solih has issued a directive to bring changes to the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF)'s Special Protection Group.

President Solih made the decision as part of the government's efforts to improve security for leaders of the government, following the 6 May terror attack which targeted former president and Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed. President Solih has relayed to Minister of Defense Mariya Ahmed Didi that changes must be brought to MNDF's Special Protection Group.

Spokesperson for the President's Office Mabrook Azeez declined to comment further on the issue, but has confirmed to Raajje MV that the President had indeed issued such a directive.

In addition to this, President Solih President stated that his administration will proceed with an intelligence audit for national security forces following the assassination attempt against former president Nasheed.

At the 7th Meeting for the National Security Council held on 8 May 2021, President Solih had approved the intelligence audit, going on to formalize a committee of four members including the Attorney General to conduct the audit on 11 May 2021.

The President's Office stated that the main goal of the committee was to review whether authorities had acted according to the law in handling intelligence reports relate to terrorism, and whether or not they had proceeded to take the necessary steps, and if the information had been shared with relevant authorities. In addition to this, the audit will also review how much information and intelligence had been shared in relation to cases of terror, and to determine whether or not authorities had access to adequate resources. The committee's work also includes exploring challenges to implementation, and what can be changed to further strengthen the intelligence framework in relation to terror.

The President's Office added that the committee was working to resolve their efforts quickly and present a report to President Solih, alongside recommendations based on their findings. The President's Office also confirmed that all relevant authorities were being supportive of the committee's review into this case.

Raajje MV has learned that a member of parliament from the Majlis Committee on National Security Services had previously contacted Minister of Defense Mariya Ahmed Didi to inform her of an immediate attack on Speaker Nasheed's person. The MP had shared information that an entity had placed a price of USD 3 million on orchestrating an attack against former president Mohamed Nasheed.

Follo9wing this, Minister Mariya had stated that MNDF would be closely observing matters related to Speaker Nasheed's security, and had encouraged the MP to come forward with the information to Police due to the nature of the case. Raajje MV has confirmed this sequence of events with Minister of Defense Mariya Ahmed Didi.