Fayyaz visits Nasheed in Ghana with key allies in tow

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail traveled to Ghana on Wednesday for a meeting with former President Mohamed Nasheed.

In December 2023, following an internal dispute with his own party members, Nasheed had announced his departure from politics to assume the role of Secretary-General of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF). However, Nasheed has since rejoined MDP and has been collaborating with Fayyaz.

A source close to Fayyaz informed Sun that the visit was not in his capacity as party chairperson, nor was anyone aware of any official discussions. Fayyaz was accompanied by several of Nasheed’s close associates during the visit, including former Vice-President Mohamed Shifaz, former party Chairperson Hassan Latheef, and former parliamentary group leader Ali Azim.

“It is a friendly visit. Not for an official matter. We have concluded all the discussions just recently,” the source stated.

Fayyaz himself affirmed that it was not a political trip, stating it was a personal visit.

Towards the end of the previous government, significant conflict arose within the MDP. In particular, Nasheed’s relationship with then-President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih was sorely strained. Nasheed had criticized the government, making serious allegations of corruption. At that time, Nasheed was one of Fayyaz’s most outspoken critics, and the two had often exchanged heated remarks.

Nasheed and his close associates left the MDP to form a new party called The Democrats, a culmination of the growing differences within MDP that emerged during the 2023 presidential election.

However, on April 5 of this year, it was decided that the faction of MDP members who had joined The Democrats would return to MDP.

Notably, Fayyaz has expressed his ambition to run in the upcoming 2028 presidential elections, a sentiment echoed by Nasheed for himself. Former President Solih and MDP’s current President Abdulla Shahid have also shown interest in this race, indicating strong competition for the presidential nomination within the MDP.