Yameen: Victory Day serves as lasting reminder of India’s assistance

Victory Day celebrates not just the bravery and sacrifices of Maldivian soldiers, but also serves as a lasting reminder of neighboring India’s support to the Maldives in times of need, says former Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

The Victory Day commemorates the Maldives’ success in foiling the armed attack of 1988 - the deadliest terror attack in Maldives’ history.

The foiled attack of November 3, 1988, was orchestrated by a group of Maldivians with the aid of armed mercenaries from Tamil secessionist organization People's Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), in an attempt to overthrow then-President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s administration.

The attack killed 19 Maldivian citizens - eight soldiers and 11 civilians - and left scores more injured.

In a post on X on Monday morning, Yameen said that Victory Day is an occasion that serves seven key purposes.

He wrote that first and foremost; the Maldivian people must treat this as an occasion to thank Almighty Allah for delivering victory.

Yameen said that Victory Day is a day that marks an attempt to change the government by shedding Maldivian blood, and a day when the strong resolve and sacrifice of soldiers became evident.

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މިއަދަކީ ދިވެހި ޤައުމަށް:

1.ނަސްރުދެއްވި ކަމަށްޓަކައި اللّـه سبحـانـه وتعـالىގެ ޙަޟުރަތަށް ޙަމްދާއި ޝުކުރުކުރުންމަތީ ދެމިތިބެން ހަނދާން ކުރަންޖެހޭ ދުވަސް

2.ދިވެހިންގެ ލޭ އޮހޮރުވާލައި ވެރިކަން ބަދަލުކުރަން އުޅުނު ދުވަސް

3.ސިފައިންގެ ވަރުގަދަ ޢަޒުމާ ވަރުގަދަ ޤުރުބާނީ ފާހަނގަ…

— Abdulla Yameen (@prz_ymn) November 3, 2025

He also paid tribute to Martyr Corporal Hussain Adam, a 19-year-old soldier from Kulhudhuffushi City who died defending the main gate of the military headquarters in Male’.

“This is the day of the noble jihad of young martyr Hussain Adam,” wrote Yameen. “This is the day on which an ordinary foot soldier taught the entire army a lesson on defending this country.”

Yameen also paid tribute to Brigadier General (Retired) Ibrahim Mohamed Didi, then a junior soldier, who played an instrumental role by securing the military armory and defending the country.

He added that the day serves as a lasting reminder of India’s assistance to the Maldives.

“This day is a lasting reminder to the Maldivian people of neighboring India’s assistance,” he said.

India had played a key role is saving the hostages the mercenaries left with as they fled Male’ on a hijacked ship.

But this last remark took many by surprise, as Yameen had led the infamous ‘India Out’ campaign demanding India withdraw all military presence from the Maldives.

He was also seen as someone who had turned away from India in favor of closer ties with China during his administration.