Ministry of Defence and National Service (Maldives)
The Ministry of Defence and National Security (Dhivehi: ދިފާޢީ އަދި ވަޠަނީ ޚިދުމަތާ ބެހޭ ވުޒާރާ, romanized: Dhifaa’ee adhi Vathanee Khidhumathaa Behey Vuzaaraa) is the Maldivian government agency responsible for protecting the independence and the integrity of the Maldivian citizenry.
| ދިފާޢީ އަދި ވަޠަނީ ޚިދުމަތާ ބެހޭ ވުޒާރާ Dhifaa’ee adhi Vathanee Khidhumathaa Behey Vuzaaraa | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1932[1] |
| Jurisdiction | Government of the Maldives |
| Headquarters | Ministry of Defence |
| Annual budget | $369K (MVR 5.7 Million) (2024)[2] |
Minister responsible | |
Deputy Ministers responsible | |
Agency executives |
|
Child agencies |
|
| Website | defence.gov.mv |
The Maldivian Constitution says:
The primary object of the Military Service is to defend and protect the Republic, its territorial integrity, its Exclusive Economic Zone and the people.[8]
ސިފައިންގެ ޚިދުމަތުގެ މައިގަނޑު މަޤްޞަދަކީ ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާއާއި، ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ސަރަޙައްދާއި، ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޚާއްޞަ އިޤްތިޞާދީ ސަރަޙައްދާއި، ރައްޔިތުން ރައްކާތެރިކޮށް ޙިމާޔަތް ކުރުމެވެ.[9]
Founding
editIn 1932, Muhammad Fareed Didi established the Maldives - Ministry of Defence during his first imperial rule.
The origin of the current security force can be traced from the initiatives of Sultan Ibrahim Nooraddeen Iskandhar who reigned from 1888 to 1892. The sultan was impressed by a group of young men practicing marching in step while they were at his palace to learn a traditional form of martial arts. The sultan gave his blessings to their new drill and facilitated their training. The group of men thereafter began to accompany the sultan on his ceremonial processions.
Ministers
edit| No. | Portrait | Name (born-died) |
Term | Political party | Government | Ref. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||||
| Minister of Defence and National Security | ||||||||
| 1 | Ismail Shafeeu | 1 September 2004[10] | 12 November 2008 | 4 years, 72 days | ? | Maumoon | [11] | |
| 2 | Ameen Faisal (born 1963) | 12 November 2008 | 29 June 2010 | 1 year, 229 days | MDP | Nasheed | [11] | |
| 2 | Ameen Faisal (born 1963) | 7 July 2010 | 10 December 2010 | 156 days | MDP | Nasheed | [11] | |
| – | Uz. Mohamed Muizzu Adnan Acting | 10 December 2010 | 30 June 2011 | 202 days | ? | Nasheed | – | |
| 3 | Thalhath Ibrahim Kaleyfaanu | 30 June 2011 | 7 February 2012 | 222 days | ? | Nasheed | – | |
| 4 | Colonel (Rtd.) Mohamed Nazim | 8 February 2012 | 20 January 2015 | 2 years, 347 days | ? | Waheed Gayoom | – | |
| 5 | Major General (Rtd.) Moosa Ali Jaleel (born 1960) | 20 January 2015 | 14 October 2015 | 267 days | ? | Gayoom | – | |
| 6 | Adam Shareef (born 1960) | 28 October 2015 | 17 November 2018 | 3 years, 20 days | PNC | Gayoom | [11] | |
| Minister of Defence | ||||||||
| 7 | Mariya Ahmed Didi (born 1962) | 17 November 2018 | 17 November 2023 | 5 years, 0 days | MDP | Solih | [12] | |
| 8 | Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon (born 1980) | 17 November 2023 | 14 April 2026 | 2 years, 148 days | PNC | Muizzu | [13][14] | |
| Minister of Defence and National Service | ||||||||
| 9 | Hassan Rasheed | 15 April 2026 | Incumbent | 78 days | ? | Muizzu | [15] | |
Agencies
editMaldives Customs Service
editMaldives Customs Service (MSC) was established as a separate legal entity independent of the civil service under the Maldives Customs Act, which was confirmed on 11 May 2011. The main responsibility of the organization is to carry out all necessary activities related to customs in relation to the import and export of goods from Maldives and maintain all related accounts.
See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ "History". Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 9 September 2016.
- ↑ "Budget 2024". Ministry of Finance (Maldives).
- 1 2 "Deputy Ministers". The President's Office. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- ↑ "Chief of Defence Force". MNDF.
- ↑ "State Ministers". The President's Office. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- ↑ "Vice Chief of Defence Force". MNDF.
- ↑ "Sergeant Major of MNDF". MNDF.
- ↑ "The Constitution of Maldives" (PDF). Attorney General's office, Maldives.
- ↑ "Ministry of Defence". www.defence.gov.mv.
- ↑ "Rulers". Rulers.org. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
- 1 2 3 4 "The Maldives Government". Archived from the original on 12 September 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ↑ "Solih's Cabinet". The President's Office. Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ↑ "The President appoints members to the Cabinet". The President's Office. 17 November 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
- ↑ "President accepts resignations of 10 Cabinet Ministers to facilitate positive Government reforms". The President's Office. 14 April 2026. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
- ↑ "President appoints Minister to Cabinet". The President's Office. 15 April 2026. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
