Ibrahim Mohamed Solih President of Maldives Flag from 17 November 2018 Date of Birth: 01.03.1962

1. Early Life and Education
2. Political Activism and MDP Formation
3. Parliamentary Career
4. Presidential Candidacy and Victory
5. Presidency

Early Life and Education

Born on the island of Hinnavaru, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih moved to Malé for education with his parents during his childhood, where he has resided ever since. The family consisted of 13 children. Solih is a graduate of Majeediyya School. Throughout his school years, he was an active student and participated in various school events, particularly in sports. He is married to Fazna Ahmed and they have a daughter named Sara and a son named Yaamin.

Political Activism and MDP Formation

Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is one of the closest associates of former president Mohamed Nasheed, who also happens to be the cousin of Solih's wife, Fazna Ahmed. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and President Mohamed Nasheed played pivotal roles in establishing a multi-party democracy in the Maldives. Solih became a prominent figure within the party and led the first parliamentary group of Maldivian Democratic Party in 2009.

Parliamentary Career

Solih has served as the Leader of the Parliamentary Group of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) since 2011, as well as the Leader of the Joint Parliamentary Group since the formation of the opposition coalition in March 2017.

Presidential Candidacy and Victory

Solih was selected as the new presidential candidate for the coalition of opposition parties in the 2018 elections when former President Mohamed Nasheed decided not to run. Solih went on to defeat incumbent President Abdulla Yameen, securing 58.4% of the popular vote, beating his opponent by over 38,500 votes. In the lead-up to the elections, many foreign observers had alleged that the elections could be rigged in favor of Abdulla Yameen, thus leading him to secure a second term. However, as the counting of ballots neared completion on election night, President Abdulla Yameen addressed the nation and conceded defeat to Solih, hours after the latter had declared victory and appealed for a peaceful transfer of power.

A key issue during the presidential campaign was whether the Maldives would continue its close relationship with the People's Republic of China, as had been the case during President Abdulla Yameen's tenure, or instead pivot towards India and Western nations (particularly the United States of America), which the opposition coalition had been more favorably inclined towards.

Presidency

Solih took office on 17 November 2018, upon the expiration of Abdulla Yameen's five-year term. Solih became the seventh President of the Maldives and the third democratically elected president after Mohamed Nasheed and Abdulla Yameen, since Nasheed defeated Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in the 2008 elections, thus ending his 30-year tenure. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is the first Maldivian president born in the country's northern atolls and also the second oldest person to assume the presidency, at the age of 54 (only Mohamed Waheed Hassan was older when he took office).

On 19 November 2018, he announced that the Maldives would readmit itself to the Commonwealth of Nations after the parliament passed a motion to do so. The Maldives had been a Commonwealth republic from 1982 to 2016.

On 19 November, Solih announced that the Maldives would rejoin the Commonwealth of Nations, a move recommended by his cabinet, given that the Maldives had been a Commonwealth republic from 1982 to 2016. President Solih became the Head of Government of the Commonwealth when the Maldives re-joined the organization on 1 February 2020.