Abdulla Shahid

His Excellency
Abdulla Shahid
NIIV
ޢަބްދުﷲ ޝާހިދު
Shahid in 2023
President of the 76th UN General Assembly
In office
14 September 2021 – 13 September 2022
Preceded byVolkan Bozkır
Succeeded byCsaba Kőrösi
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
17 November 2018 – 17 November 2023
PresidentIbrahim Mohamed Solih
Preceded byMohamed Asim
Succeeded byMoosa Zameer
In office
23 August 2007 – 11 November 2008
PresidentMaumoon Abdul Gayoom
Preceded byAhmed Shaheed
Succeeded byAhmed Shaheed
16th Speaker of the People's Majlis[1]
In office
28 May 2009 – 28 May 2014
PresidentMohamed Nasheed
Mohamed Waheed Hassan
Abdulla Yameen
Preceded byMohamed Shihab
Succeeded byAbdulla Maseeh Mohamed
Member of Parliament
In office
28 May 2014 – 14 November 2018
Preceded byConstituency established
ConstituencyHenveiru Uthuru
In office
28 May 2009 – 28 May 2014
Succeeded byMoosa Nizar Ibrahim
ConstituencyKeyodhoo
President of the Maldivian Democratic Party
Incumbent
Assumed office
20 February 2024
Preceded byIbrahim Mohamed Solih
Personal details
Born (1962-05-26) 26 May 1962
Malé, Sultanate of the Maldives
Political partyMaldivian Democratic Party[2][3](2013–present)
Other political
affiliations		Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (before 2013)
Children3
Parent(s)Maimoona Wajeeh
Moosa Jameel
Alma materCanberra College of Advanced Education, Australia
Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, USA
Signature

Abdulla Shahid, NIIV (Dhivehi: ޢަބްދުﷲ ޝާހިދު; born 26 May 1962)[4] is a Maldivian politician, diplomat, and public servant. He is currently the president-the second highest official of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)[5] and previously served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2018 to 2023.[6] From 2021 to 2022, he served as President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, becoming the first Maldivian to be elected to the role.[7]

Shahid has held a range of senior positions in government and parliament over a four-decade career, including Speaker of the People's Majlis (2009–2014) and multiple terms as a Member of Parliament. He is known for his contributions to multilateral diplomacy, democratic governance, and constitutional reform in the Maldives.[8]

Early life and education

Shahid joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1984. He earned his bachelor's degree in political science from the Canberra College of Advanced Education in 1987. In 1991, he obtained a master's degree in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University. From 1990 to 1994, Shahid served on the advisory board to President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.[4][9]

Career

Early diplomatic service

Shahid began his career in the Maldives' foreign service, rising through the ranks of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he was appointed director in 1993. He led the International Organizations and Conferences Department and represented the Maldives in a number of international fora, including the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organization of Islamic Conference.[10]

Member of Parliament and Speaker of the People's Majlis

In 2000, Shahid was elected to the People's Majlis as the representative for the Vaavu Atoll constituency. He went on to serve two terms as its MP. Between 2004 and 2008, he was a delegate to the Special Majlis that drafted the new Constitution of the Maldives.

In May 2009, Shahid was elected to represent the Keyodhoo constituency in the first multi-party parliamentary elections held in the Maldives.[11]

That same month, he was elected as the 16th Speaker of the People's Majlis, a role he held from 2009 to 2014. He secured 42 out of 75 votes in parliament and presided over a transformative period in the country's democratic transition.[12][13]

From 2014 to 2018, he served as Member of Parliament for Henveiru Uthuru (North Henveiru).[14]

Shahid meets with U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. (20 February 2019).

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Shahid has served two terms as Minister of Foreign Affairs. His first appointment came in 2007 under President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, where he served until 2008.[12] He had previously held the post of Minister of State for Foreign Affairs from 2005.[15]

In 2018, he returned to the Foreign Ministry under President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and served until 2023. During this period, Shahid led Maldives' diplomatic re-engagement with multilateral institutions, climate diplomacy, and renewed Commonwealth membership.

On 15 April 2013, Shahid resigned from the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party, citing growing concerns about democratic backsliding.[3] On 18 April 2013, he announced on Twitter that he had joined the Maldivian Democratic Party, aligning himself with the party’s democratic reform agenda.[16][9]

President of the United Nations General Assembly

On 7 June 2021, Shahid was elected as the 76th President of the United Nations General Assembly with 143 votes in favour out of 193 member states. His presidency focused on post-pandemic recovery, climate action, and revitalising multilateral cooperation.[17]

On 23 December 2021, Shahid tested positive for COVID-19.[18]

President of the Maldivian Democratic Party

In February 2024, following the resignation of former party president Mohamed Nasheed, Shahid assumed the leadership of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), the country’s largest political party. Unopposed in the nomination process, his selection reflected broad consensus within the party at a critical time. As president, Shahid has focused on revitalising democratic values, strengthening internal unity, and preparing the party to meet new political and institutional challenges.[19][5]

Honours

References

  1. ^ "Past Speakers". People's Majlis. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Speaker Shahid joins MDP". Sun. 18 April 2013. Archived from the original on 21 May 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Speaker Shahid ends speculation, announces MDP switch". Haveeru Daily. 18 April 2013. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Honourable Abdulla Shahid, MP and Former Speaker Parliament of the Maldives" (PDF). Inter-Parliamentary Union. 16 November 2014. p. 1.
  5. ^ a b Mohamed, Mariyath (20 February 2024). "As sole candidate, Shahid wins MDP Presidency". The Edition. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  6. ^ "Former Ministers". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Maldives). Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Honourable Abdulla Shahid" (PDF). United Nations. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  8. ^ "The Cabinet". The President's Office. Archived from the original on 12 January 2019.
  9. ^ a b "His Excellency Mr. Abdulla Shahid, MP A Biographical Note". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Maldives). Archived from the original on 11 August 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
  10. ^ "PGA Biography". United Nations. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Abdulla Shahid – Minister of Foreign Affairs". Berlin Global. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  12. ^ a b "The Honorable Abdulla Shahid, MP, the Speaker of People's Majlis". People's Majlis. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
  13. ^ "Opposition members elected to position of Majlis Speaker, Deputy Speaker". Haveeru Daily. Maldives. 30 May 2009. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
  14. ^ "18th Parliament Members". People's Majlis. Government of the Maldives. 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  15. ^ "Abdulla Shahid – Minister of Foreign Affairs". Government of the Maldives. Archived from the original on 1 October 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  16. ^ Shahid, Abdulla [@abdulla_shahid] (18 April 2013). "I believe in the democratic Maldives built in 2008;will not stand by while opportunists & extremists drag our country back.Today, I join MDP" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 1 January 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2024 – via Twitter.
  17. ^ Abdulla, Lamya (7 June 2021). "Maldives' FM Abdulla Shahid elected as President of UN General Assembly". The Edition. Archived from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  18. ^ "UN General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid tests positive for COVID-19". The Hindu. PTI. 23 December 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 23 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  19. ^ Shahid, Malika (13 February 2024). "Applications open for the post of MDP president". The Edition. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  20. ^ "President confers Order of the Distinguished Rule of Izzuddin to PGA of the 76th Session of the UNGA Abdulla Shahid". The President's Office. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  21. ^ "UNGA President Shahid conferred highest honor of the Dominican Republic". Sun. 19 June 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  22. ^ "Foreign Minister Shahid conferred Grand Cross of Order of Antonio Jose de Irisarri". Sun. 16 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
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