Nasheed’s suggestion: Grant citizenship to foreigners as an incentive to work in Addu

Former president Mohamed Nasheed states dividing Addu City would not yeild any positive outcomes, emphasizing that the key for the city’s development is to grow its population.  

A public referendum on the composition Addu City Council is scheduled for October 25^th, where residents of Feydhoo, Hulhudhoo, and Meedhoo districts of the city will be asked whether support forming separate councils for their islands. The referendum was announced by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on September 17, and is the first to be held under the newly enacted Public Referendum Act.

Commenting on the matter via a post on X on Monday, Nasheed said the islands of Addu City will gain no further advantage by division. Rather, he said what is required for the development of the city, is to increase its population.

To increase Addu’s population, the former president proposed granting Maldivian citizenship to eligible foreigners who are educated and possess technical expertise, on the condition that they work in Addu City for a specified period.

Nasheed added that there would be no shortage of young professionals—such as doctors, teachers, and specialists in various fields—within the Islamic Ummah who would readily seize such an opportunity.

“Addu can be transformed into a city with a population of 50,000 people,” he stressed.

Notably, Addu was granted city status during Nasheed’s administration.

With the vote set for Saturday, debates are ongoing regarding question put forth in referendum. While some support the current composition of Addu City Council, citing there are no benefits from forming separate council, others wish to form separate councils.

Opposition MDP and some nongovernment organizations have expressed concern over the referendum, citing its rushed nature.