The administration of President Mohamed Muizzu has begun using state machinery to silence the opposition following the October 3 rally held by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).
In the days after the rally, police have arrested opposition supporters, confiscated phones, and intimidated activists — a clear sign, critics say, that the government is trying to crush dissent and spread fear among those who speak out.Now, the government has turned its attention to senior leaders of the former administration.
Former Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer has been summoned by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for questioning over compensation payments made to private companies during his time in office. He is the second top official from President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s government to be called in by the ACC in what many believe is a politically motivated campaign.
Just days earlier, former Economic Minister and MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail said he was also summoned over a 2019 compensation case involving Swift Engineering Pvt Ltd, a company linked to ruling PNC MP Saudhullah Hilmy. Fayyaz is due to appear on Monday, while Ameer will face the ACC on Tuesday.
Ameer defended his record, saying he served the country with honesty and integrity.
“Everything we did was to protect the state from financial loss. I have full confidence in my decisions,” he wrote on X.He accused the ACC of acting under government pressure. Stop framing people unfairly just to save your jobs. We will bow only to Allah not to Muizzu’s dictatorship,” Ameer said.
– އޭސީސީ ގެ ތަހްގީގަކަށް ބުނެ އަޅުގަނޑަށްވެސް އާދިއްތަ ދުވަހު 2:30 އަށް އޭސީސީ އަށް ހާޒިރުވުމަށް އަންގާފަ އެބައޮތް.
– 2019 އިން 2023 އަށް މާލީ ވަޒީރުކަމުގައި މަސައްކަތްކޮށްފައި ވާނީ އަމާނާތްތެރިކަމާއި ތެދުވެރިކަމާއެކު. ރަސްމީ ހައިސިއްޔަތުގެ ބޭނުންކޮށް ދައުލަތަށް ގެއްލުންވާނެ…— Ibrahim Ameer 🇵🇸 (@iameeru) October 9, 2025
The ACC alleges that Fayyaz misused his position on the Alternate Dispute Resolution Committee to approve an unfair deal that harmed the state. But MP Saudhullah defended the settlement, saying Swift Engineering was removed from six projects under former President Abdulla Yameen and later given replacement projects — a decision that actually saved public money.
According to the Finance Ministry, the previous government paid over MVR 1.6 billion in compensation to various companies.
However, opposition figures say these cases are not about justice — they are about revenge. The timing of the summonses, coming right after the October 3 rally, shows the government’s clear intent to intimidate and silence political rivals.
The Muizzu administration’s use of institutions like the ACC and the police against opposition leaders is being seen as part of a broader pattern of authoritarian control.Many fear that the Maldives is sliding back into an era of fear, where critics are punished, and state power is used to crush democracy.
