President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has issued a decree reconstituting the Addu City Council and creating separate island councils for Meedhoo and Hulhudhoo, a restructuring designed to strengthen local governance in Addu Atoll.
Under the order, Addu will be formally recognised as Addu City, comprising the administrative divisions of Hithadhoo, Maradhoo, Maradhoo-Feydhoo and Feydhoo. The decision builds on the presidential decree that designated Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo as distinct inhabited islands.
The reform follows a public referendum held on 25 October, in which residents of Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo voted in favour of forming their own island councils. A majority of participants supported separating administratively from the Addu City Council to establish independent governance.
Responding to that mandate, President Muizzu issued a resolution on Monday addressing the classification of inhabited islands in the country. His decree sets in motion a restructuring that will see Addu City governed by a reconstituted council, while Meedhoo and Hulhudhoo will each be administered by newly established island councils.
The changes will take effect once the next cohort of local council members is appointed and their terms begin. Elections for these councils are scheduled for 28 March next year, according to the Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM), which has announced that the candidacy window will open in January.
Until those elections are concluded, Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo will remain under the jurisdiction of the Addu City Council. At present, the two islands are represented within the council by two sitting councillors.