穆蒙·阿卜杜勒·加尧姆

Maumoon Abdul Gayoom ( gah-YOOM; born Abdulla Maumoon Khairi; 29 December 1937) is a Maldivian politician, statesman and diplomat who served as the 3rd president of the Maldives from 1978 to 2008. He previously served as the Minister of Transport from 1977 to 1978, and as the Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations from 1976 to 1977. Gayoom is the longest-serving president in Maldivian history.

Gayoom was born and raised in Malé. After serving as a lecturer at the Ahmadu Bello University in Nigeria, he returned to the Maldives in 1971 and worked as a teacher at Aminiya School. He was later appointed the manager of shipping department at the government. Gayoom was placed under house arrest in 1973 for criticising the policies of the then-president Nasir. He was later banished to Makunudhoo for four years but was released five months later as part of an amnesty following President Nasir's re-election for a second term. In 1974, he was arrested again for his continued criticism of Nasir's policies, but after 50 days in jail, he was freed and, in 1975, appointed as Special Undersecretary in the Prime Minister's Office. Gayoom later served as the deputy ambassador of the Maldives to Sri Lanka and was appointed deputy minister of transport under minister Hassan Zareer. After serving as deputy minister, he was appointed Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations in 1976. Following the vacancy of minister of transport, Gayoom was appointed to the position. As president Nasir chose not to seek re-election, a vote in the Citizen's Majlis which selected Gayoom as the candidate. In July 1978, Gayoom won the presidential referendum with 92.96% of the vote.

Early life

Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was born Abdulla Maumoon Khairi on 29 December 1937, at his father's home in Machangoalhi, Malé. He was the first child of Abdul Gayoom Ibrahim and Khadheeja Moosa and the tenth child of Abdul Gayoom. His father was a lawyer and the 7th Attorney General of the Maldives from 1950 to 1951.……

Education

Gayoom received his early education through homeschooling, taught by his father, a teacher and scholar.……

Early career

Career

From 1969 to 1971, Gayoom was a lecturer in Islamic studies at Abdullahi Bayero College, then part of Ahmadu Bello University in Kano State, Nigeria. After serving at the Ahmadu Bello University, Gayoom returned to the Maldives in early 1971.……

Minister of Transport (1977–1978)

Soon after returning from the United States after serving at the United Nations, Gayoom accepted President Nasir's request to serve as Minister of transport.……

Presidential elections

1978 presidential election

Gayoom was nominated for the presidential election in 1978 by his two brothers-in-law, who proposed his name to parliament. Both then-President Ibrahim Nasir and Gayoom were put forward as candidates to be selected as the sole presidential candidate, with Nasir receiving 41 votes and Gayoom securing 5 votes.……

2003 presidential election

Gayoom was selected as the candidate for the presidential referendum with the votes of all 50 members of the People's Majlis.……

Presidency (1978–2008)

Gayoom was inaugurated as the 3rd President of the Republic of Maldives on 11 November 1978 at 12:00 AM. His oath was administered by judge Moosa Fathhy. One of the first things Gayoom did at the beginning of his administration was upgrading the education and healthcare system in the Maldives.

First and second terms (1978–1988)

1980 assassination attempt

In February 1980, Former president Ibrahim Nasir, along with his brother-in-law Ahmed Naseem, Health Minister Mohamed Musthafa Hussain, and businessman Mohamed Yusuf, hired nine former members of the British Special Air Service (SAS) to carry out an assassination and coup attempt against Gayoom.……

Post-presidency (2008–present)

Following the inauguration of Mohamed Nasheed on 11 November 2008, Gayoom moved to his private residence in Malé. Gayoom made regular appearances at various events throughout the Malé city, until his imprisonment in 2018, and remained low public profile ever since.

Views on later presidents and diplomacy

Gayoom made a number of visits to countries as a special envoy of the president of the Maldives.……

Public image

Gayoom is regarded as one of the most influential figures in Maldivian history. At 88 years old, he is the oldest living former president and is the earliest-serving living former president since the death of Ibrahim Nasir in 2008. Gayoom's leadership has left an important mark on the country's political landscape.

Awards and honours

Gayoom received several notable awards and honours throughout his career. In 1988, he was included in the Global 500 Roll of Honour by the United Nations Environment Programme.……