President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has restored the authority of the country’s home minister, stripped of by the previous administration.

The president announced this on Saturday, while speaking at a Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) campaign rally in Komandhoo island of Shaviyani atoll.

Solih added that all necessary paperwork to restore the home minister’s authority “have been completed.”

Former President Abdulla Yameen had, back in 2016, stripped the home minister of the authority to issue surveillance orders and had formed a committee to advice the minister, despite the anti-terrorism law only affords the authority to the home minister. Shortly afterwards, then Home Minister Umar Naseer resigned.

Further noting the crisis in the country in recent years, President Solih highlighted that his administration “has been working to overcome this.”

He added that they have made immense stride in the short time since he assumed office, in November, by bringing various amendments to laws through parliament.

Back in December, the cabinet had passed to restore the authority of city, atoll and island councils; also stripped of by the Yameen administration.

President Solih is currently on a two-atoll tour, Shaviyani and Raa atolls, as part of the ruling party’s campaign for the April’s parliamentary elections.