Dr Asim dismissed as acting Minister of Foreign Affairs

President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has dismissed Minister of Education Dr Asim Ahmed from the post Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and has appointed Minister of Environment and Energy Dr Maryam Shakeela to the post.

President’s Office spokesperson Massood Imad said today; “Foreign Ministry has been handed over to Dr Mariyam Shakeela instead of Dr Asim Ahmed. Dr Asim will still remain as the Education Minister.”

Dr Asim Ahmed sits in the cabinet as a member of the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP). The party today announced that they will be supporting the main opposition, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) for the presidential runoff. Dr Asim, who also sits in the DRP council, voted in favour of their decision to join MDP, in their council meeting today.

Following a bitter defeat in the first round of polls, President Waheed has decided to support the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) in the presidential runoff.