US embassy cable - 02COLOMBO1954

UNCLAS COLOMBO 001954 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
FOR SA/INS AND INR/NESA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PINR, PHUM, MV, UN, Maldives 
SUBJECT:  Maldives: President Goyoom announces cabinet 
changes and new diplomatic appointments 
 
 
1. (U) This message is Sensitive but Unclassified -- 
Please handle accordingly. 
 
2. (U) In an October 9 announcement, Maldivian President 
Maumoon Gayoom announced changes to his cabinet, and 
appointed new ambassadors to Sri Lanka and the UN. 
Please see Para four for a complete listing of the new 
appointments. 
 
3. (SBU) Mission has carefully reviewed Gayoom's 
announcement and has the following comments re the 
selections: 
 
-- Of particular note was the appointment of Raashida 
Yoosuf as the High Commissioner to Sri Lanka.  Yoosuf 
was the Minister of Women's Affairs and Social Welfare 
at the time of her appointment.  She is reportedly the 
first woman ever chosen to be a Maldivian ambassador. 
(Note:  The Sri Lanka high commissioner slot is an 
important one for the Maldives, which transacts much 
commercial and other business out of Colombo.  The 
selection of Yoosuf follows in the wake of Gayoom's 
naming of the first woman as Atoll Chief last year. 
Atoll Chief is an influential position in the Maldives.) 
 
-- Yoosuf's predecessor as high commissioner in Sri 
Lanka, Abdul Azeez, has been named Deputy Minister of 
Housing.  Azeez, the former dean of Colombo's diplomatic 
corps, had served in Sri Lanka for years. 
 
-- Also of note was the appointment of Mohamed Latheef 
as the Ambassador to the UN.  Latheef is leaving his 
position as Minister of Education, which he held for 
nine years, to take his position at the UN.  Both 
Yoosuf's and Latheef's positions are cabinet-level.  We 
understand that the GoRM is preparing a formal request 
to have Mr. Latheef co-accredited to the U.S. 
 
4. (U) Following are the appointments to the Maldivian 
cabinet and diplomatic corps that were announced on 
October 9: 
 
-- Aneesa Ahmed was appointed Minister of Women's 
Affairs and Social Security.  She was formally the 
Deputy Minister in this ministry; 
 
-- Abdul Azeez was appointed Deputy Minister of Home 
Affairs, Housing and Environment.  He was formally the 
Ambassador to Sri Lanka; 
 
-- Midhat Hilmy was appointed Minister of Communication, 
Science and Technology.  He was formally the Deputy 
Minister in this ministry; 
 
-- Mohamed Latheef was appointed Ambassador to the UN. 
He was the Minister of Education; 
 
-- Ismail Shafeeu was appointed Minister of Education. 
He was formally the Minister of Home Affairs, Housing 
and Environment; 
 
-- Mahmood Shaugy was appointed Deputy Minister of 
Education.  He was formally the Assistant Director 
General in this ministry; 
 
-- Raashida Yoosuf was appointed Ambassador to Sri 
Lanka.  She was the Minister of Women's Affairs and 
Social Welfare. 
 
Wills