From Promises to Plunder: How a Government Elected to End Corruption Entrenched It at the Highest Levels

Under the Muizzu administration, corruption and financial misconduct have escalated significantly. Major development projects are being awarded to close associates without any competitive bidding process. International reports highlight a concerning pattern where individuals previously dismissed from government positions due to corruption allegations are being reappointed to other official roles. The Maldives is identified as a high-risk country for money laundering, drug trafficking, corruption, organized crime, and the acquisition of illicit funds through fraud and malpractice. Since President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu assumed office, theft and corruption have reached unprecedented levels. Projects worth hundreds of millions of Maldivian Rufiyaa were handed out during a lavish ceremony, despite the Public Finance Act prohibiting such actions without competitive bidding. Critics argue that major corruption cases continue to stagnate, and international indices like the Corruption Perceptions Index show no meaningful progress in combating corruption in the Maldives.