# Maldives United Opposition

The Maldives United Opposition was a Maldivian political coalition consisting of political parties with different political ideologies. It was established in June 2016 with the goal of removing president Abdulla Yameen. It was dissolved in 2018, after Yameen lost the 2018 presidential election.

## History

In London, rival opposition groups of the government, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Adhaalath Party (AP), as well as former deputies of president Abdulla Yameen's cabinet, as well as former defence minister Mohamed Nazim, formed the Maldives United Opposition. The party established Mohamed Jameel Ahmed as the leader of the party.

### Rallies and protests
#### First rally

In 2016, the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure originally granted MDP a permit to hold a rally in Malé, but later withdrew it, the minister Mohamed Muizzu saying that it was granted to MDP and not "some group called the united coalition". The MUO later rescheduled the rally to the 21st, but later cancelled due to bad weather. Opposition MP Ahmed Mahloof and others were arrested for promoting the rally using a megaphone on a parked pickup truck. The rally took place at the MDP meeting hall and thousands of supporters came. Riot police was blocking Majeedhee Magu and pushing people onto the pavement. Many were arrested including Ahmed Mahloof, and foreigners.
MUO has seen low turnout at its later rallies, MUO spokesman Ali Zahir saying that the people are scared to come out.

#### Surprise protest

On 31 August 2016, hundreds of protesters marched with raincoats in Malé, demanding the resignation of Abdulla Yameen as president of the Maldives. Riot police soon arrived and pepper sprayed the crowd and dispersed the gathering.

### Shadow cabinet

MUO wanted the government of Abdulla Yameen to resign and to form an interim government. So, MUO created a shadow cabinet, so when Abdulla Yameen's government resigns, MUO's shadow cabinet will take over as the interim government.
The following shows the shadow cabinet members and their positions:
| Name | Position |
| Mohamed Jameel Ahmed | Leader of the Maldives United Opposition |
| Ali Waheed | Deputy Leader of the Maldives United Opposition |
| Abdulla Ameen | Shadow Minister of Defence and National Security |
| Mohamed Shihab | Shadow Minister of Finance and Treasury |
| Ahmed Thasmeen Ali | Shadow Minister of Home Affairs |
| Ahmed Naseem | Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs |
| Adam Azim | Shadow Minister of Trade and Transport |
| Mohamed Aslam | Shadow Minister of Environment, Clean Energy, and Waste Management |
| Hisaan Hussain | Shadow Minister of Judicial Reform |
| Ahmed Nasheed | Shadow Minister of Housing and Infrastructure |
| Shifa Mohamed | Shadow Minister of Education |
| Mustafa Lutfi | Shadow Minister of Higher Education |
| Mohamed Shifaz | Shadow Minister of Youth and Sports |
| Abdul Majeed Abdul Bari | Shadow Minister of Islamic Affairs |
| Hassan Latheef | Shadow Minister of Civil Rights |
| Gais Naseer | Shadow Minister of Local Government and Decentralisation |
| Ibrahim Ameer | Shadow Minister of International Financial Agreements, Fisheries and Agriculture |
| Shidhatha Shareef | Shadow Minister of Health, Social Protection and Gender |
| Maleeh Jamal | Shadow Minister of Resort & Guesthouse Tourism |
| Ali Niyaz | Shadow Minister of Elections Commission & Independent Institutions Reform |
| Hussain Shameem | Shadow Minister of Constitutional Reform |
| Ahmed Mahloof | Spokesperson for the United Opposition |

### 2018 presidential election

After Mohamed Nasheed withdrew his candidacy for president, the MOU agreed on Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. MDP's presidential ticket was given to Solih.

## Member parties

* Maldivian Democratic Party
* Adhaalath Party