In a rare and important move, three former presidents of the Maldives have come together. They are asking the government to free two journalists from Adhadhu news and stop all cases against them. Former Presidents Mohamed Nasheed, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, and Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom held a joint press conference on May 15, 2026. This was their first public action as a group. They said the country is facing many problems and they must work together to help.
President Yameen said the present government is making it hard for the press to work freely. He spoke about a “gag order” that has put two journalists in prison and others in court. “We have a duty to protect the country,” he told reporters.
President Solih explained why they joined hands. He said the situation in the Maldives is getting worse fast. The most important thing now, he said, is to remove barriers to free speech so the government can be held accountable. He called for the immediate release of the two Adhadhu journalists and to end the cases against the others.
President Nasheed admitted that all three of them made mistakes when they were in power. But he said they cannot stay quiet now. “We have united because there is no other choice,” he said. The other two leaders agreed with him.
The three leaders also talked about other issues. President Solih spoke about the pardon he gave to former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb in the big MMPRC corruption case. He said the pardon was only for the criminal part. The government can still work to get back the lost money, he added. There is no legal problem stopping them from doing that.
This meeting is seen as a big change in Maldives politics. The three leaders, who come from different parties, have put aside their differences to speak for the nation. They worry that basic rights, the courts, and parliament are not independent under the current government.
Many people are watching to see what happens next. The call to free the journalists has brought fresh attention to press freedom in the country. When leaders from different backgrounds come together on this issue, it shows how serious the matter is. The government should listen and take quick steps to protect the rights of journalists and all citizens. The coming days will be important for Maldives.
