The government of President Mohamed Muizzu has abruptly seized the 40-hectare land with a 2.4-km-long beach, designated as the Hithadhoo tourism zone, in Addu city.

The area between Hithadhoo Port and Hankede was reclaimed during the previous administration. The land use plan, made with the input of the people, allocated the area for tourism purposes.

But on October 5, the Finance Ministry sent a letter to the Addu City Council to take over the land. Addu City Council member Ibrahim Shinaz told Adhadhu the letter was sent on orders from the President's Office.

"This is seizing the people's land. We will protest against this," he said.

"This is the first time the government has seized an island's land in such a way. The Decentralization Act was changed to do such things."

While the land allocated by the council for tourism development in Hithadhoo was taken over by the government, Shinaz noted that nothing has been done to develop tourism in Hankede and the reclaimed islands previously handed over to the government.

"If President Muizzu wishes well for the people of Addu, he should develop Hankede and the reclaimed islands. He should also pave the way for the development of 74 land plots allocated to private individuals for tourism purposes," he said.

The government should be ashamed to seize the people's land without doing anything for the development of Addu."

Shinaz accused the government of planning to distribute land plots before next year's local council elections.

“It is to influence the election,” he said.