Abdulla Shahid, NIIV (Dhivehi: ޢަބްދުﷲ ޝާހިދު; born 26 May 1962)[4] is a Maldivian politician who served as President of the 76th United Nations General Assembly between 2021 and 2022 and is the current president of the Maldivian Democratic Party.[5][6][7] Shahid is the first Maldivian politician to hold that post. He had served as minister of foreign affairs from 2018 to 2023.[8]
Abdulla Shahid | |
|---|---|
ޢަބްދުﷲ ޝާހިދު | |
 Shahid in 2023 | |
| President of the 76th UN General Assembly | |
| In office 14 September 2021 – 13 September 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Volkan Bozkır |
| Succeeded by | Csaba Kőrösi |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 17 November 2018 – 17 November 2023 | |
| President | Ibrahim Mohamed Solih |
| Preceded by | Mohamed Asim |
| Succeeded by | Moosa Zameer |
| In office 23 August 2007 – 11 November 2008 | |
| President | Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom |
| Preceded by | Ahmed Shaheed |
| Succeeded by | Ahmed Shaheed |
| 16th Speaker of the People's Majlis[1] | |
| In office 28 May 2009 – 28 May 2014 | |
| President | Mohamed Nasheed Mohammed Waheed Hassan Abdulla Yameen |
| Preceded by | Mohamed Shihab |
| Succeeded by | Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed |
| Member of Parliament | |
| In office 28 May 2014 – 14 November 2018 | |
| Constituency | Henveiru Uthuru |
| Member of Parliament for Keyodhoo constituency | |
| In office 28 May 2009 – 28 May 2014 | |
| President’s Member to the Special Majlis | |
| President’s Member to the People’s Majlis | |
| Vaavu Atoll Member to the Special Majlis | |
| Executive Secretary to the President | |
| President of the Maldivian Democratic Party | |
| Assumed office 20 February 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Ibrahim Mohamed Solih |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 May 1962 Malé, Sultanate of the Maldives |
| Political party | Maldivian Democratic Party[2][3](2013–present) |
| Other political affiliations | Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (before 2013) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent(s) | Maimoona Wajeeh Moosa Jameel |
| Alma mater | Canberra College of Advanced Education, Australia Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, USA |
| Signature |  |
Early life and education
editShahid joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1984, then he had his bachelor's degree in political science at the Canberra College of Advanced Education in 1987. In 1990, he was a member of the advisory board of President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom until 1994. In the meantime, he took a master's degree in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University in 1991.[4][9]
Career
editShahid served as the Speaker of the People’s Majlis of the Maldives from 2009 to 2014. He was elected as the Speaker of the People’s Majlis on 28 May 2009, the seventeenth holder of the position.[10] He won 42 votes out of 75 votes. Shahid played a key role in the Maldives’ transition to democracy in 2008.[11] Abdulla Shahid is a member of MDP and was the parliament member for Henveiru Uthuru (South Henveiru).[12]
Prior to his role as an MP, Shahid served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1984, eventually becoming director in 1993. In this capacity, he also headed the International Organizations and Conferences Department, representing the Maldives at meetings and international gatherings including the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organization of Islamic Conference.[13]
Member of Parliament
editIn 2000, Shahid was elected as the representative of the Vaavu Atoll constituency and served two terms as the Atoll’s member. Shahid served in the Special Majlis (July 2004 – August 2008) which drafted the new Constitution of the Maldives. In May 2009, in the first multi-party parliamentary elections of the Maldives, Shahid won the Keyodhoo Constituency.[14]
Minister of Foreign Affairs
editShahid served as minister of foreign affairs from 23 August 2007 to 11 November 2008,[10] in the presidency of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. He had been appointed Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in 2005.[15]
On 15 April 2013, Shahid resigned from the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party.[3] On 18 April 2013, he announced on Twitter that he had signed up for Maldivian Democratic Party.[16][9]
UN General Assembly President
editOn 7 June 2021, Shahid was elected as the 76th President of the United Nations General Assembly with an overwhelming 75 percent majority, with 143 in favour, 48 against, and no abstentions or invalid votes.[17] On 23 December 2021, Shahid tested positive for COVID-19.[18]
Maldivian Democratic Party President
editAfter the resignation of MDP's president, Mohamed Nasheed, Shahid applied for the post of president.[19] He was the only person to apply and thus became the president.[5]
Honours
editMaldives:
Dominican Republic:
Grand Cross with Silver Breast Star of the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella - 2022
Guatemala:
Grand Cross of the Order of Antonio José de Irisarri - 2022
References
edit- ^ "Past Speakers". People's Majlis. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "Speaker Shahid joins MDP". Sun. 18 April 2013. Archived from the original on 21 May 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "Honourable Abdulla Shahid, MP and Former Speaker Parliament of the Maldives" (PDF). Inter-Parliamentary Union. 16 November 2014. p. 1.
- ^ a b Mohamed, Mariyath (20 February 2024). "As sole candidate, Shahid wins MDP Presidency". The Edition. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
- ^ "The Cabinet". The President's Office. Archived from the original on 12 January 2019.
- ^ "Honourable Abdulla Shahid" (PDF). United Nations. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "Former Ministers". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Maldives). Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "18th Parliament Members". People's Majlis. Government of the Maldives. 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "PGA Biography". United Nations. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "Abdulla Shahid – Minister of Foreign Affairs". Berlin Global. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "Abdulla Shahid – Minister of Foreign Affairs". Government of the Maldives. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Abdulla, Lamya (7 June 2021). "Maldives' FM Abdulla Shahid elected as President of UN General Assembly". The Edition. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Shahid, Malika (13 February 2024). "Applications open for the post of MDP president". The Edition. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ "President confers Order of the Distinguished Rule of Izzuddin to PGA of the 76th Session of the UNGA Abdulla Shahid".