Curtains are up hopefully for a season of political stability in Maldives, the islands republic to the south-west of India. The swearing in of newly elected President Ibrahim Solih, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi among other dignitaries Saturday, is expected to open a new era of hope and economic development for the nation set in the Indian Ocean archipelago. This is despite the fact that seasons of political instability, and overt and covert attempts by Pakistan and China to wean the small nation to their side and away from India’s influence, marked the events there in recent years.
Ibrahim Solih’s election as head of state, endorsed also by court amid attempts to challenge people’s verdict in polls, meant the island nation has evolved and has solid mechanisms in place to ward off machinations within and from outside to create instability there. It was clear to one and all that Abdullah Yameen, ousted from power in the new polls, had exceeded his brief. As he began losing public support, he turned more authoritarian, jailed political opponents, and went berserk. In all these, he obviously took advice and inspiration from Pakistan. Pakistan helped China court Yameen, to jointly push and promote their vested interests and agenda to isolate India in the geopolitical region. Yameen was willing to play along. His recklessness only resulted in his own unceremonious exit from power.
The politics and governance in Maldives remained disrupted off and on ever since 1988, when a coup d’ etat was foiled by timely airlifting of over 1,600 Indian troops to Maldives by then PM Rajiv Gandhi. This was in response to an urgent request (SOS), from then head of state Maummon Abdul Gayoom. Gayoom luckily survived that attempt. His exit from power in later years, and the political slugfest and disruptions in governance that followed, had exposed how foreign powers, including Pakistan and China, tried to meddle in Maldives’ internal affairs. They have achieved some successes in the past, also as Pakistan played the Muslim card, but these are now things of the past.
Be that as it may, it is time now for Maldives to gain lost ground in terms of economic growth and zealously guard against future disruptions by these alien interests. India remains Maldives’ strongest ally; and PM Modi has, in specific terms promised support to by way of creating educational and health infrastructure and other development needs. For now, it’s time to cheer.