Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo removed from Addu City Council

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu issued a presidential decree on Monday, to reconstitute the Addu City Council and establish separate island councils for Meedhoo and Hulhudhoo following the referendum where residents of both islands voted in favor of separating from Addu City Council.

The referendum in question was held on October 25^th and asked residents of Feydhoo, Hulhudhoo, and Meedhoo districts of Addu City whether they support forming separate councils for their islands. While Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo voted to separate from Addu City Council and establish separate councils, Feydhoo voted to remain under Addu City Council as at present.

Prior to this, President Muizzu has stated the government will remain neutral and implement the outcome decided by the majority of voters.

According to the presidential decree publicized by the President’s Office on Monday night, Addu will be officially defined as Addu City, comprising the administrative divisions of Hithadhoo, Maradhoo, Maradhoo-Feydhoo and Feydhoo. 

The President’s Office said that with the implementation of this decree, Addu City will be formally recognized as a city with a reconstituted council, while separate island councils will be established for Addu Meedhoo and Addu Hulhudhoo. 

The decree will come into effect on the day the next local council members are appointed and their terms commence. Elections for these councils will be held on the next scheduled local council election date.

The referendum results published by the Elections Commission:

• Hulhudhoo: 723 out of 1,070 voters voted in favor of forming a separate council
• Meedhoo: 847 out of 1,002 voters voted in favor of forming a separate council
• Feydhoo: 1,784 out of 2,421 voters voted against secession

Only 4,493 voters cast ballots, just 47 percent of the eligible voters.