The Maldives has dropped four places in the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) World Press Freedom Index, at a time when the nation’s free press environment is being systematically dismantled and journalists face mounting challenges from state institutions.
In this year’s index, the Maldives ranks 108th out of 180 countries, down from 104th last year. When President Mohamed Muizzu assumed office, the country was ranked 100th.
"The safety and security of journalists has plummeted by 21 points, with the index highlighting a concerning rise in the threats faced by media professionals in the Maldives," the Maldives Journalist Association (MJA) stated.
Maldives Rankings:
- 2026 - 108th
- 2025 - 104th
- 2024 - 106th
- 2023 - 100th
- 2022 - 87th
- 2021 - 72nd
- 2020 - 79th
- 2019 - 98th
- 2018 - 120th
- 2017 & 2016 - 117th
The State of Press Freedom in the Maldives
The past year has seen increasing government efforts to obstruct press freedom. Notably, a legal framework has been established to control the media, including the passage of legislation to create a control commission with the power to shut down news outlets.
Furthermore, President Mohamed Muizzu personally contacted Hussain Fiyaz Moosa, the CEO of Adhadhu, issuing direct threats of severe action against him and his team of journalists. Muizzu made the intimidating phone call to Fiyaz at 7:04 pm on March 14, 2025.
In addition to Adhadhu, several other Maldivian journalists received death threats over the past year. Social media campaigns aimed at disparaging and intimidating journalists have also been orchestrated at the government's behest, with political appointees actively participating in these efforts.
A year after Muizzu's threatening call to Fiyaz, police conducted a raid on the Adhadhu office on the night of April 27. During the operation, important electronic equipment was seized by the authorities.
These actions are part of an ongoing crackdown on Adhadhu following the publication of a documentary based on an interview with a President’s Office employee who leveled serious allegations against Muizzu. The raid took place one month after the documentary’s release.
The police raid on Adhadhu’s office occurred less than 12 hours after the outlet questioned Muizzu regarding these allegations. While he denied the claims, Adhadhu CEO Fiyaz and Editor Hassan Mohamed were summoned by police, and their passports have been confiscated in connection with the case.
As these incidents occurred during the current year, they were not factored into the data used to compile the latest RSF index.
