Abdulla Shahid

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
People’s Majlis
Vaavu Atoll Member to the Special Majlis
Executive Secretary to the President
President of the Maldivian Democratic Party
Assumed office
20 February 2024
Preceded byIbrahim Mohamed Solih
Personal details
Born (1962-05-26) 26 May 1962 (age 61)
Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
, USA

Abdulla Shahid (

Dhivehi: ޢަބްދުﷲ ޝާހިދު; born 26 May 1962)[4] is a Maldivian politician who served as President of the 76th United Nations General Assembly between 2021 and 2022 and the President of the Maldivian Democratic Party.[5][6][7] Shahid is the first Maldivian politician to hold that post. He had served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maldives
from 2018 to 2023.

Early life and education

Shahid joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1984, then he had his bachelor's degree in political science at the

Career

Shahid served as the Speaker of the People’s Majlis of the Maldives from 2009 to 2014.[1] He was elected as the Speaker of the People’s Majlis on 28 May 2009, the seventeenth holder of the position.[9] He won 42 votes out of 75 votes. Shahid played a key role in the Maldives’ transition to democracy in 2008.[10] Abdulla Shahid is a member of MDP and is the parliament member for Henveiru Uthuru.[11]

Shahid meets with U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. (20 February 2019).

Prior to his role as an MP, Shahid served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1984, eventually becoming Director in 1993. In this capacity, he also headed the International Organizations and Conferences Department, representing the Maldives at meetings and international gatherings including the United Nations, the

Organization of Islamic Conference.[12]

Member of Parliament

In 2000, Shahid was elected as the Representative of the Vaavu Atoll constituency and served two terms as the Atoll’s Member. Shahid served in the Special Majlis (July 2004 – August 2008) which drafted the new Constitution of the Maldives. In May 2009, in the first multi-party parliamentary elections of the Maldives, Shahid won the Keyodhoo Constituency.[13]

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Shahid served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 23 August 2007 to 11 November 2008,[9] in the presidency of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. He had been appointed Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in 2005.[14]

On 15 April 2013, Shahid resigned from the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party.[3] On 18 April 2013, he announced on Twitter that he had signed up for Maldivian Democratic Party.[15][8]

UN General Assembly President

On 7 June 2021, Shahid was elected as the 76th President of the United Nations General Assembly with an overwhelming 75 percent majority, with 143 in favour, 48 against, and no abstentions or invalid votes.[16] On 23 December 2021 Shahid tested positive for COVID-19.[17]

References

  1. ^ a b "Kuryge raeesun" (in Divehi). Majlis. 6 January 2019. Archived from the original on 6 January 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  2. ^ "Speaker Shahid joins MDP". Sun Online. April 18, 2013. Archived from the original on May 21, 2013. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Speaker Shahid ends speculation, announces MDP switch". Haveeru Online. April 18, 2013. Archived from the original on April 21, 2013. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Honourable Abdulla Shahid, MP and Former Speaker Parliament of the Maldives" (PDF). ipu.org. 16 November 2014. p. 1.
  5. ^ Mohamed, Mariyath (20 February 2024). "As sole candidate, Shahid wins MDP Presidency". The Edition. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  6. ^ "The President's Office". presidency.gov.mv. Archived from the original on 2019-01-02. Retrieved 2019-01-01.
  7. ^ "Honourable Abdulla Shahid" (PDF). un.org.
  8. ^ a b "His Excellency Mr. Abdulla Shahid, MP A Biographical Note". Foreign Ministry of Maldives. Archived from the original on August 11, 2014. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
  9. ^ a b "The Honorable Abdulla Shahid, MP, the Speaker of People's Majlis". Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
  10. ^ "Opposition members elected to position of Majlis Speaker, Deputy Speaker". Haveeru Daily. Maldives. May 30, 2009. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
  11. Government of the Maldives
    . 2018.
  12. ^ "PGA Biography". United Nations. 2020.
  13. ^ "Foreign ministry profiles". Berlin Global.
  14. ^ "Minister of Foreign Affairs". Government of the Maldives.
  15. ^ "Twitter/ @abdulla_shahid". Twitter.com. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  16. ^ "Maldives' FM Abdulla Shahid elected as President of UN General Assembly". edition.mv. 7 June 2021.
  17. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2021-12-27.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: others (link
    )
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by President of the United Nations General Assembly
2021–2022
Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Secretary of State Order of precedence of the United States
as President of the United Nations General Assembly

when in session
Succeeded byas Secretary-General of the United Nations
Preceded byas Secretary-General of the United Nations Order of precedence of the United States
as President of the United Nations General Assembly

when not in session
Succeeded byas Ambassador to the United States for Palau