In a shocking turn of events, president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom Thursday appointed former foreign minister and his niece Dhunya Maumoon as the new state health minister amid the ongoing rift with half brother Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.
Dhunya suddenly stepped down last July over what she described as a profound differences of opinion with the government’s bid to enforce the death penalty.
She along with siblings Yumna and Faaris had been dragged into the bitter dispute between her uncle and father who had officially withdrawn support for the government after the civil court had handed the ruling party control to her uncle.
Dhunya had continued to publicly criticize president Yameen and his government amid the feud.
The elder Gayoom's youngest son Ghassan Maumoon was the only child who had backed president Yameen in the feud before Dhunya's appointment.
It is unclear what Dhunya's new post means for the dispute between the Gayoom brothers.
However, shortly after the appointment was announced, Yumna on Twitter said her sister's decision was "her own". "I remain behind my father," her Tweet read.
Gayoom's camp is yet to officially comment on Dhunya's decision.