Malé, Maldives – The ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Vice-President Mohammed Shifaz (Shippe) has been sacked as the Minister of the President’s Office.
Shifaz was one of the first to be appointed to a political position outside the cabinet after President Ibrahim Mohammed Solih came to power. He was appointed Minister of the President’s Office on November 22, 2018.
The President’s Office did not disclose the reason for the dismissal, but it is rumored that Shifaz, who supports Speaker Nasheed’s faction in MDP, had stopped going to office since the start of the party’s presidential primary campaign on 28th last month.
Shifaz is one of the most prominent figures in Nasheed’s faction. Shifaz has also been criticized by President Solih’s supporters for trying to find another candidate without supporting President Solih.
Recently, Hussain Amru, who was the MD of STO, was also sacked. Amru is also a supporter of President Nasheed and has been working with him.
Nasheed, who lost the primary against President Solih last January to nominate a candidate for this year’s presidential election, is currently working to form a separate faction within the MDP.
