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Mimrah Abdul Ghafoor

Mimrah Abdul Ghafoor

Mimrah Ghafoor writes on the politics and diplomacy of the Indian Ocean, with a particular focus on the Maldives. He holds a Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of St Andrews. He served as a speechwriter for the President of the 76th Session of the General Assembly.

Mimrah Abdul Ghafoor, a Maldivian national holding an MA in International Relations from the University of St Andrews, served as a speechwriter and later as the lead speechwriter at the Office of the President of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. Before this, he worked as an Assistant Director in the Maldives President’s Office and as a Foreign Service Officer in the Maldives’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Prior to his government service, Mimrah was involved in the NGO sector, working with Transparency Maldives – the national chapter of Transparency International – and Advocating the Rights of Children, an organization specializing in promoting and protecting children’s rights.

Posts by Mimrah Abdul Ghafoor
January 29, 2024

Maldives Grapples with Repatriation Amidst Rising Religious Extremism

By Mimrah Abdul Ghafoor
The Muizzu government will repatriate 21 Maldivians, primarily widows and children of foreign terrorist fighters, from a refugee camp near the Turkey-Syria border.

January 16, 2024

Maldives Signals Tilt Toward China

By Mimrah Abdul Ghafoor
Yet, India is a powerful neighbor, one that plays a major role in the Maldivian economy. How long can President Muizzu sustain this path without taking steps to ease tensions?
December 29, 2023

The State of South Asia in 2023

By Mimrah Abdul Ghafoor
The year was dominated by elections, and political and economic instability. Amid the bad news, India landed a spacecraft near the Moon’s south pole.

December 12, 2023

Rift Between Muizzu and Yameen Injects Fresh Tensions Into Maldives’ Politics

By Mimrah Abdul Ghafoor
The animosity between the two former allies resembles the tensions that arose between former Presidents Mohamed Nasheed and Ibrahim Solih during the latter’s presidency.

November 28, 2023

Bhutan Takes Another Step Forward on Democratic Path

By Mimrah Abdul Ghafoor
Voting in the first phase of elections to the National Assembly – the fourth since the Himalayan kingdom democratized in 2008 – will take place on November 30.

November 15, 2023

The Gulf’s Growing Influence Over the Maldives

By Mimrah Abdul Ghafoor
The Indian Ocean archipelago is seeking greater economic investment from Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
October 25, 2023

The Past, Present, and Future of Maldivian Democracy

By Mimrah Abdul Ghafoor
No Maldivian government since 2008 has fully adhered to democratic norms. Will President-elect Muizzu break this pattern?

October 12, 2023

Maldives’ Presidential Election Was Not a Referendum on India or China 

By Mimrah Abdul Ghafoor
Local political maneuvering and pressing domestic issues – not geopolitics – drove most Maldivians’ voting decisions.

October 03, 2023

Opposition’s Mohamed Muizzu Wins Maldives’ Presidential Election

By Mimrah Abdul Ghafoor
In opposition, Muizzu was part of the “India Out” campaign. Will he take this forward as president?

September 20, 2023

Nasheed’s Democrats Emerge Kingmakers in Maldivian Presidential Election

By Mimrah Abdul Ghafoor
Will President Solih concede to friend-turned-foe Nasheed’s demand for a referendum to win his support in the runoff election?

September 05, 2023

Ibrahim Solih Optimistic on Re-election Chances

By Mimrah Abdul Ghafoor
While the ruling MDP expects him to win an outright victory in the first round, the possibility of a run-off vote cannot be ruled out.
August 23, 2023

India-China Contest Looms Over Maldives’ Presidential Elections

By Mimrah Abdul Ghafoor
While Muizzu's victory could see a tilt toward China in the archipelago’s foreign policy, India and its Quad partners will cheer President Solih’s re-election.

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