Minister Adam Shareef revises stance on council cooperation after president’s remarks

Minister of City Councils, Local Government, and Public Works Adam Shareef Umar has stated that the government is carrying out numerous projects with the cooperation of local councils, despite President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s earlier claim that projects in 57 islands remain stalled due to opposition from councils aligned against the administration's policies.

During a press conference held at the President's Office on Thursday, Minister Adam Shareef shared detailed updates on the ministry's ongoing initiatives. The Minister noted that extensive work is being carried out in collaboration with local councils and emphasized that the ministry continues to receive their full cooperation.

However, during a Taraweeh gathering hosted by the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) on February 26, 2026, President Muizzu stated that development projects in 57 islands have been stalled because opposition-led councils are refusing to hand over land under various pretexts. He further noted that these obstructions from local councils have hindered the rapid implementation of his administration's pledges.

During the press conference, a RaajjeTV journalist questioned the inconsistencies between the statements made by Minister Adam Shareef and President Muizzu. The journalist further requested the President to provide details regarding the 57 islands he had referenced.

Minister Adam Shareef did not provide a direct response to the questions posed by the journalist.

The Minister stated that challenges are inevitable within a decentralized system where individuals of diverse political ideologies work together under a multi-party framework.

We maintain a very close relationship with the local councils. Therefore, the act of working together is entirely distinct from the instances where certain councils, for various reasons, withhold the necessary cooperation from the government. We are committed to working alongside the councils. We recognize that as we implement this system in the Maldives, we are operating within a multi-party framework. The Maldives is still gaining experience with both the multi-party system and the decentralized governance model. Given that individuals with diverse political ideologies work within this decentralized structure under a multi-party system, challenges are inevitable. These are experiences that any administration would encounter. Consequently, we believe that the issues highlighted by the President stem from political motivations. It appears that certain actions are being taken to obstruct the development projects initiated by the President, specifically because he is successfully executing tasks that previous administrations either initiated, intended to do, or failed to complete.

Minister of Local Government, Adam Shareef Umar

Furthermore, when repeatedly questioned by the journalist to provide details regarding the 57 islands mentioned by President Muizzu, Minister Adam Shareef stated that the President’s assertion—that projects in 57 islands could not proceed due to opposition-aligned councils citing various excuses to withhold land—was based on documentation currently in his possession. The Minister noted that while the Ministry has also observed a lack of cooperation from certain island councils, the specific list mentioned by the President was not immediately available.

Although Minister Adam Shareef began the press conference by stating that he receives cooperation from the councils, he concluded by affirming his agreement with the remarks made by President Muizzu.