People's National Congress (PNC) Chairman Abdul Raheem Abdulla was appointed as Special Advisor to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on Friday night.
The appointment was made during a ceremony at the President's Office.
Abdul Raheem, who was also in charge of transitional matters, played the most important role in securing Muizzu's victory.
He also played a prominent role in maintaining the first Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) government.
Abdul Raheem was MP for the Fonadhoo constituency in both the 16th and 17th parliaments. He previously worked at the Laamu atoll office.
After the conviction and jailing of the PPM-PNC coalition's leader, former President Abdulla Yameen, on bribery and money laundering charges, Abdul Raheem became acting leader and led the opposition.
New President's Office Ministers. -- Photo: President's Office
Five individuals were appointed as Ministers at the President's Office.
President's Office Ministers
- Ali Arif - Minister at the President's Office for Presidential Affairs
- Abdulla Naseer - Minister at the President's Office
- Adam Rameez - Minister at the President's Office
- Ibrahim Khaleel - Minister at the President's Office for Strategic Communications
- Ahmed Hisham Wajeeh - Minister at the President's Office for Legal Affairs
Other posts
- Abdulla Fayaz - Chief of Staff
- Mohamed Naseem - Principal Secretary to the President on Foreign Relations
- Ahmed Ali Habeeb - Principal Secretary to the President on Cabinet Affairs
- Mohamed Shahid - Principal Secretary to the President on Corporate Development
- Hussain Amir - Secretary to the President on Corporate Services
- Abbas Shareef - Secretary to the President on Legal Affairs
- Aishath Ikram - Secretary to the President on Public Policy
Advisors
- Ibrahim Latheef, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Retired) - National Security Advisor
- Mohamed Ali Janah - Principal Advisor to the President on Trade and Investment
- Mohamed Khaleel - Advisor to the President on Tourism Development
Chief of Staff Abdulla Fayaz was Deputy Housing Minister during former President Abdulla Yameen's administration. He was also Permanent Secretary of the Transport Ministry during the last administration.
Khaleel and Janah.
Two prominent businessmen, Mohamed Ali Janah and Manta Air CEO Mohamed Khaleel were appointed as advisors.
A construction magnate, Janah started his career in 1987 and went on to work on 52 resort development projects, playing a major role in realizing the investments of top global brands such as Four Seasons, Shangri-La and Soneva.
Janah served six consecutive terms as the president of the local construction industry's association and remains in the post.
He endorsed President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih for the presidential election.
Manta Air CEO Khaleel served as chairman of the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) during President Yameen's administration before returning to the private sector.
Ibrahim Latheef.
Ibrahim Latheef, a former deputy police chief, was appointed as National Security Advisor, a new post created at the ministerial rank.
Latheef joined the military in 1984 as a lance corporal and went on to become Commanding Officer of the Security Division.
He transferred to the police when the army and the police service were split, serving as head of criminal investigations and Deputy Commissioner before retiring in 2007 after 23 years.
After retiring, Latheef worked as a senior advisor for the Western Australian Police.
