UN delegation leaves Maldives after meeting government, opposition members

The delegation of the United Nations Department of Political Affairs (DPA) has left Maldives after concluding their three-day visit.

The UN in a tweet said the delegation departed on Tuesday evening after ‘productive engagements with national political and civil society counterparts’.

Earlier on Tuesday, the UN delegation met with senior members of the opposition Jumhoree Party (JP) and Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) as well as Fisheries Minister Dr Mohamed Shainee.

In an earlier tweet, the UN said its team was in Maldives to ‘continue engagement with the Government, political parties and civil society representatives.’

Following the declaration of a nation-wide state of emergency in the Maldives on 5th February, the United Nations had called on the government to lift the state of emergency. It has also repeatedly called on the government and opposition to hold a dialogue, in order to resolve the issues within the country, even offering to be a mediator in the process.

While Hindustan Times, citing UN spokesperson Farhan Haq, reported that the Maldivian authorities had turned down the UN’s offer for mediation, Minister Shainee refuted this, saying that President Abdulla Yameen “has not rejected UN’s role in all-party talks”.

Shainee, who is the government’s representative in the all-party talks, said that “UN participation is a request by the President himself,” adding that it is the opposition that “keeps blocking” the talks.

Following the controversial Supreme Court ruling on 1st February, the government had called to restart dialogue, but the opposition called to implement the court ruling before heading to any talks. The ruling ordered the release of nine political prisoners and to reinstate 12 opposition MPs.

United Nation’s Department of Political Affairs (DPA) plays a central role in the efforts to prevent and resolve conflict around the world.