The Peoples’ Majlis has approved the five nominations forwarded by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, to be appointed as foreign envoys.

The five individuals are; Aminath Shabeena to the United Arab Emirates, Dr. Hussain Niyaz to India as well as non-resident ambassador to Nepal and Bhutan, Shiruzimath Sameer to Bangladesh, Farzana Zahir to Pakistan and Dr. Asim Ahmed as the permanent representative at the Maldives mission in Geneva as well as the non-resident ambassador to Switzerland.

While 68 lawmakers voted in favour of Shiruzimath’s appointment, the remaining nominees received 70 votes.

The nominations were reviewed by the committee on national security and foreign relations.

Following their approval, Speaker and former President Mohamed Nasheed noted the ‘gender parity among heads of mission”.

With the new appointees, there are currently 18 foreign envoys; nine men and nine women.

Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid noted this in a tweet sent out after the nominees were forwarded for parliamentary approval in late June, and added that this is a first in the the history of diplomatic service. He stressed that equal participation of women and men “is crucial” for the country to excel.