2025 Addu City referendum

2025 Addu referendum
25 October 2025 (2025-10-25)
Proposed restructuring of Addu City Council
Addu Atoll, Maldives
Results
Choice
 Votes %
Separate Hulhudhoo, Meedhoo and Feydhoo 2,176 49.15%
Remain under Addu City Council 2,251 50.85%
Valid votes 4,427 98.55%
Invalid or blank votes 65 1.45%
Total votes 4,492 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 9,576 46.91%
Separate Feydhoo
Yes
 
 25.40%
No
 
 73.61%
Separate Hulhudhoo
Yes
 
 67.29%
No
 
 30.37%
Separate Meedhoo
Yes
 
 83.93%
No
 
 14.37%

The 2025 Addu City referendum is a public vote in Addu City, Maldives that was held on 25 October 2025. It asks residents of three island constituencies (Hulhudhoo, Meedhoo, and Feydhoo) whether to establish separate island councils for their communities, instead of remaining under the Addu City Council. This referendum follows a Presidential decree and the newly enacted Public Referendum Act (Law No. 15/2025)

Background

Addu City, the southernmost city of the Maldives, was declared a city in 2011 and comprises six inhabited islands.[1] Since 2011 it has been governed by a single Addu City Council (with the Mayor and 12 members) representing all islands.[2] Representation on the council is uneven: for example, the largest island (Hithadhoo) holds six seats, while Hulhudhoo, Meedhoo and Feydhoo hold only one or two each.[3] Petitions had been submitted by Addu residents seeking a review of the city's composition and proposing separate councils for Hulhudhoo, Meedhoo and Feydhoo.[4]

In September 2025, the People's Majlis (parliament) passed a new Public Referendum Act (Law No. 15/2025), which President Mohamed Muizzu later ratified.[5][6] Acting on the petitions, President Muizzu convened the Cabinet on 5 October 2025 and approved holding a local referendum under the new law.[7]

In October, President Muizzu issued Presidential Decree No. 27/2025, which declared a referendum in Hulhudhoo, Meedhoo, and Feydhoo.[8] The decree also announced that the referendum was scheduled to be held on 24 or 25 October.[8]

On 12 October 2025, President Muizzu issued Presidential Decree No. 31/2025 which amended the questions that the Presidential Decree No. 27/2025 had stated.[9]

Proposal

According to Presidential Decree No. 27/2025, the questions for Hulhudhoo, Meedhoo, and Feydhoo are as follows:

Hulhudhoo:

  • Should a separate council be established for Addu Hulhudhoo?
  • Should a combined council be established for Addu Hulhudhoo and Addu Meedhoo?

Meedhoo:

  • Should a separate council be established for Addu Meedhoo?
  • Should a combined council be established for Addu Hulhudhoo and Addu Meedhoo?

Feydhoo:

  • Should a separate council be established for Addu Feydhoo?

This was later amended in Presidential Decree No. 31/2025 upon the recommendation of the cabinet.[9]

The question for each island is:[9]

"Should a separate Should a separate council be established for Addu [Hulhudhoo / Meedhoo / Feydhoo]?"

Conduct

The referendum was only open to the citizens of Hulhudhoo. Meedhoo, and Feydhoo. In total, 9,576 voters are eligible: approximately 4,355 in Feydhoo, 2,874 in Hulhudhoo and 2,347 in Meedhoo.[10][11] Ballot papers are printed separately for each island. Registered voters in Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo will each answer one question; Feydhoo voters will answer one question pertaining to their island.[10]

The referendum took place on 25 October 2025 with voting hours from 8:00 AM to 04:00 PM (GMT+5).[4]

Polling takes place on 25 October 2025, with voting hours from 08:00AM to 04:00PM GMT+5.[4]

Polling stations have been arranged as follows: five stations in Feydhoo, three in Hulhudhoo, three in Meedhoo, plus special ballot boxes in Malé (Kalaafaanu School) for Addu voters residing in the capital.[11] After polls close, counting begins 30 minutes later.[11] The Elections Commission expects to announce provisional results by Tuesday 28 October.[11]

Campaign

Campaigning ahead of the referendum has featured vigorous debate among local politicians, parties and community groups.

Ibrahim Didi (PNC MP for South Feydhoo) and Abdulla Rahman (Independent MP for Meedhoo) had endorsed the seperation, arguing that the three isladns had been "orphaned" by the larger islands and deserve control of their own affairs.[12]

Addu City Mayor Ali Nizar and Ahmed Azaan (PNC MP for Central Hithadhoo) warned that dividing the city would weaken Addu's political influence.[13] Nizar stated that it would be hard for the independent councils to sustain themselves financially.[14] Former president Mohamed Nasheed posted on social media that dividing the city wouldn't bring any benefit and proposed focusing on growing Addu's population.[15] MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail questioned the process and raised concerns over the rushing of the referendum which may deepen voter frustration.[16]

President Mohamed Muizzu has said that the referendum was held to honour pledges he made during his 2023 presidential campaign and has affirmed that the government has no preferred outcome.[17] Muizzu has stated that separate councils will have full authority and have separate budgets.[18]

Local NGO groups—Transparency Maldives, Project ThimaaVeshi, the Maldives Local Councils Association, and Zero Waste Maldives—had raised concerns over the tight deadline, unfairness, transparency, and inclusivity.[19] They noted how the referendum was rushed and that there wasn't enough time for public consultation.[20]

Result

4,492 voters out of 9,576 registered voters (47%) had participated in the referendum.[21] The official count released by the Elections Commission showed that Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo voted to form separate councils with 723 out of 1020 in Hulhudhoo and 847 out of 1002 in Meedhoo.[22] Feydhoo voted against secession and chose to remain governed under the Addu City Council.[22]

Former president Mohamed Nasheed urged the public to ensure no anger arises from the results and MDP chairperson Fayyaz Ismail congratulated Feydhoo of sticking within Addu City and hopes Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo thrive independently.[23][24]

Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo celebrated by displaying fireworks after the referendum results were released.[25]

In November 2025, President Muizzu issued a decree to reconstitute the Addu City Council, designated Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo as two distinct inhabited islands, and established Addu Meedhoo Council along with Addu Hulhudhoo Council.[26][27] He had also amended the administrative jurisdictions of Addu City, Addu Hulhudhoo, and Addu Meedhoo.[28]

References

  1. ^ "Addu Declared a City Following Publication of Criteria Determining Cities". The President's Office. 10 January 2011. Archived from the original on 3 March 2026. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  2. ^ Thaufeeq, Shazma (19 November 2025). "Addu City to consist of a Mayor plus six Council members". The Edition. Archived from the original on 3 March 2026. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  3. ^ Fathih, Mohamed Saif (22 October 2025). "When is democracy undemocratic? Addu's referendum and the autonomy dilemma". Maldives Independent. Archived from the original on 5 February 2026. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  4. ^ a b c "Public referendum announced on jurisdictional composition of Addu city aiming on the constituencies of Hulhudhoo, Meedhoo, and Feydhoo". Elections Commission. 12 October 2025. Archived from the original on 3 March 2026. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  5. ^ Mohamed, Mariyath (2 March 2026). "Parliament passes Referendum Bill". The Edition. Archived from the original on 3 March 2026. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  6. ^ "President ratifies the Public Referendum Bill". The President's Office. 16 September 2025. Archived from the original on 9 October 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  7. ^ Mohamed, Mariyath (6 October 2025). "Addu City jurisdiction referendum to be held in October". The Edition. Archived from the original on 3 March 2026. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  8. ^ a b "President Issues Decree to Hold Referendum on the Jurisdiction of Addu City". The President's Office. 6 October 2025. Archived from the original on 10 November 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  9. ^ a b c "President issues Decree amending referendum questions on the jurisdictional composition of Addu City". The President's Office. 12 October 2025. Archived from the original on 16 December 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  10. ^ a b "9,576 eligible to vote in Addu referendum on Saturday". Atoll Times. 21 October 2025. Archived from the original on 10 December 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  11. ^ a b c d Azeez, Azhaar Abdul (21 October 2025). "Voters list for Addu referendum finalized". Sun. Archived from the original on 3 March 2026. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  12. ^ Thaufeeq, Shazma (11 October 2025). "Addu Council Referendum: City MPs express divided opinions". The Edition. Archived from the original on 3 March 2026. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  13. ^ "Azaan urges vote against dividing Addu council". Atoll Times. 12 October 2025. Archived from the original on 17 November 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  14. ^ Azeez, Azhaar Abdul (24 October 2025). "Mayor Nizar: Services in Addu are equal, separation will strain costs". Sun. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  15. ^ "Nasheed suggests expanding Addu's population instead of division". Atoll Times. 20 October 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  16. ^ Azeez, Azhaar Abdul (19 October 2025). "Fayyaz urges to find legal solutions over rushed Addu referendum". Sun. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  17. ^ "Government has no preferred outcome for Addu Referendum: President". The President's Office. 20 October 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  18. ^ "Separate councils will give Addu islands independent budgets, president says". Atoll Times. 21 October 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  19. ^ "Press Statement: Public Referendum in Addu City". Transparency Maldives. 17 October 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  20. ^ "Advocacy groups slam 'rushed' Addu referendum, lack of inclusivity". Sun. 18 October 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  21. ^ Azeez, Azhaar Abdul (25 October 2025). "Less than half of eligible voters participate in Addu city referendum". Sun. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  22. ^ a b Mohamed, Naizak (4 November 2025). "Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo removed from Addu City Council". Sun. Archived from the original on 11 November 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  23. ^ Azeez, Azhaar Abdul (25 October 2025). "Nasheed calls for calm after Addu referendum, urges communities to prevent dissent". Sun. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  24. ^ Azeez, Azhaar Abdul (25 October 2025). "Fayyaz: Feydhoo made a wise decision, hope Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo thrive independently". Sun. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  25. ^ Mohamed, Naizak (26 October 2025). "Fireworks at Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo to celebrate referendum success". Sun. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  26. ^ "President issues Decree to reconstitute Addu City Council and establish Meedhoo and Hulhudhoo Island Councils". The President's Office. 3 November 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  27. ^ "President designates Addu Hulhudhoo and Addu Meedhoo as separate inhabited islands". The President's Office. 3 November 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  28. ^ "President amends administrative jurisdictions of Addu City, Addu Hulhudhoo, and Addu Meedhoo". The President's Office. 26 February 2026. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
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