Maldives: State of emergency extended to March 22 /update 5

Event

On Tuesday, February 21, the Maldives' parliament, citing threats to national security, voted to extend the current state of emergency by 30 days to Thursday, March 22. The state of emergency was previously declared on February 5, in response to rising political tensions. According to local sources, opposition parties boycotted the Tuesday vote, and characterized the extension of the state of emergency as illegal and unconstitutional.

Heightened political tensions are expected to continue in the Maldives in the near-term; related protests and demonstrations, and consequent transportation disruptions are possible - particularly in Malé - in the coming days.

Context

Mounting sociopolitical tensions - spurred on by the government's arrests of multiple opposition figures - prompted Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen to declare a 15-day state of emergency on February 5 and to subsequently order the arrests of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, two Supreme Court judges, and the chief judicial administrator. The political opposition has accused Yameen of using the country's security forces to "cling onto power."

Advice

Individuals in the Maldives, particularly in Malé, are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid all protests and demonstrations as a precaution, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities.