Savaaheli removed from Addu jurisdiction, stripping residents of their rights; the future of Addu's people will not be decided by those in air-conditioned rooms in Male': Shahid
24 ޖުލައި 2026 | ހުކުރު 17:35Public concern is mounting over the government’s decision to remove "Savaaheli" from Addu City’s jurisdiction, a move critics describe as an undermining of the decentralization system and a blow to the city's economic prospects. MDP President Abdulla Shahid stated that the President’s decree, issued without prior consultation while the council was in the process of opening the island for development bids, violates the rights of Addu citizens. Consequently, Shahid has called on the government to immediately return the island to the jurisdiction of the Addu City Council.
MDP President Abdulla Shahid. | Raajje MV
Abdulla Shahid, President of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), has stated that President Muizzu’s sudden decree to remove 'Savaaheli' from the jurisdiction of Addu City and bring it under the central government is a violation of the rights of the city's residents.
Issued by President Muizzu late Wednesday night, this decree mandates changes to the administrative jurisdiction of Addu City.
The government reclaimed the island while the Addu City Council was in the process of seeking developers to transform it into the Savaaheli Entertainment and Recreation Facility, having already opened the project for competitive bidding.
According to the presidential decree, the island was removed from the jurisdiction of Addu City to be utilized for tourism purposes. However, the decree did not provide any further details regarding the decision.
In a social media post regarding the matter, Shahid stated that the jurisdiction of Savaaheli island was removed from Addu City and brought under the control of the central government. He noted that this decision was made shortly after the Addu City Council had opened a public tender to lease, develop, and manage the island as a recreational and entertainment facility.
Shahid stated that this is a promising project linked to the growth of guesthouse businesses and small to medium enterprises, not only in Feydhoo—where the tourism zone is situated along the coastline—but across other islands in Addu as well. He further noted that the initiative is expected to create numerous employment opportunities for the youth and drive the overall advancement of the tourism sector.
However, Shahid stated that the government has stripped the people of Addu City of a significant right by taking this action without any consultation with the residents or their elected council. He further emphasized that decisions regarding the future of the city's residents should not be made by individuals sitting in air-conditioned offices in Malé. Instead, he asserted that the people of Addu City must have the right to determine the course of their own future.
Shahid has called on the government to immediately return Savaaheli to the people of Addu City, emphasizing that the site is integral to the future of the city's tourism industry.
The decision has sparked widespread public concern. Many have characterized the sudden issuance of the decree late at night—just as the council had commenced development projects on the island—as a deliberate attempt by the government to undermine and obstruct local authorities.
Furthermore, some critics have accused the government of carrying out this action as a deliberate attempt to undermine the authority of local councils and obstruct the powers granted to them under the decentralization system.
The public is expressing concern that the government's decision to reclaim islands without prior consultation is a major setback for local economic growth, particularly as the Addu City Council had already been planning a significant development project for the area.
