Abdulla Shahid

Maldivian politician and President of the UN 76th General Assembly
ޢަބްދުﷲ ޝާހިދު
Shahid in 2021
President of the 76th UN General AssemblyIn office
14 September 2021 – 13 September 2022Preceded byVolkan BozkırSucceeded byCsaba KőrösiMinister of Foreign AffairsIn office
17 November 2018 – 17 November 2023PresidentIbrahim Mohamed SolihPreceded byMohamed AsimSucceeded byMoosa ZameerIn office
23 August 2007 – 11 November 2008PresidentMaumoon Abdul GayyoomPreceded byAhmed ShaheedSucceeded byAhmed Shaheed16th Speaker of the People's Majlis[1]In office
28 May 2008 – 28 May 2014PresidentMohamed Nasheed
Mohammed Waheed Hassan
Abdulla YameenPreceded byMohamed ShihabSucceeded byAbdulla Maseeh MohamedMember of Parliament
for Henveiru Uthuru constituencyIn office
28 May 2014 – 14 November 2018Member of Parliament
for Keyodhoo constituencyIn office
28 May 2008 – 28 May 2014President’s Member to the Special MajlisPresident’s Member to the People’s MajlisVaavu Atoll Member to the Special MajlisExecutive Secretary to the PresidentPresident of the Maldivian Democratic PartyAssumed office
20 February 2024Preceded byIbrahim Mohamed Solih Personal detailsBorn (1962-05-26) 26 May 1962 (age 61)
Malé, Sultanate of the MaldivesPolitical partyMaldivian Democratic Party[2][3](2013-present)Other political
affiliationsDhivehi Rayyithunge Party (before 2013)Children3Alma materCanberra College of Advanced Education, Australia
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 Canberra College of Advanced Education in 1987. In 1990, he was a member of the advisory board of President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom until 1994. In the meantime, he took a master's degree in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University in 1991.[4][8]

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 Commonwealth of Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and 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. ^ "18th Parliament Members". 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. ^ "UN General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid tests positive for COVID-19". The Hindu. PTI. 2021-12-23. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
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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
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