Sun has been informed that Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer is currently on an overseas trip, as protestors from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) forced their way into the Finance Ministry headquarters demanding a meeting with him.
A crowd of protestors, including both incumbent and former lawmakers, had begun gathering outside the Finance Ministry building located in the Ameenee Magu of Male’ City at around 10:30 am, for MDP’s ‘Lootuvaifi, Lootuvaifi’ demonstration – a protest over the country’s economic crisis.
They initially stood on the other side of the road, demanding a meeting between the party's lawmakers and Zameer. About an hour in, the protestors crossed the road to enter the Finance Ministry compound, but were barred from entering the building by the police. Chanting slogans like “Open the door!” and “You can’t hide from us!” they demanded to be let in to meet Zameer.
Several MDP lawmakers were then seen forcing their way past the police officers and through the doors.
MDP parlimentry group ge member in Finance ministry ah vannan huddha nudhin kamah bune ehvun hoonu vejje#sunonline #news #sunonlineheadlines #latestnews #dhivehinews #maldivesnews pic.twitter.com/8NAwjAOLzd
— sun.mv (@sunbrk) September 8, 2025
When asked whether they have been granted a meeting with Zameer, an official from Finance Ministry told Sun that Zameer is not in the office, nor anywhere in Male’.
“How is he supposed to meet them? He is not in the Maldives at this time,” responded the official.
The protestors appear unaware of this.
The lawmakers who forced their way in remain inside the building, as some protestors wait outside.
The MDP is protesting over the Maldives’ economic crisis, mainly the USD crunch, the soaring inflation rate, and the billions of Rufiyaa in outstanding payments that the government owes to private businesses.
While the government has not disclosed the exact figure of outstanding payments owed to private businesses, MDP suspects it to be somewhere around MVR 14 million.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu had previously pledged to clear the outstanding bills ahead of Ramadan this year.
The country’s current economic situation is linked to staggering external debt obligations, with USD 600 million due this year and another USD 1.1 billion due next year.
President Muizzu’s administration has repeatedly expressed confidence in being able to overcome the crisis.