Abdulla Shahid, a former foreign affairs minister of the Maldives and former president of the United Nations General Assembly, was taken into custody on Monday under a judicial warrant on suspicion of sexually abusing a minor. The 64-year-old veteran diplomat, who was widely viewed as a leading potential presidential challenger to incumbent leader Mohamed Muizzu in the upcoming 2028 elections, has firmly rejected the claims as politically motivated fabrication.
According to the Maldives Police, Shahid was detained in the capital city of Malé at approximately 9:59 p.m. local time on Nov. 2, 2026. In an official statement released on social media, law enforcement authorities confirmed the apprehension of the 64-year-old resident of H. Rabee’ee Manzil, noting that active investigations are underway. Police have not yet disclosed further specifics regarding the nature of the allegations.
Following his detention, Shahid took to social media to push back against the accusations, characterizing them as a coordinated attempt to damage his standing. “The stories being politically circulated to assassinate my character are completely baseless lies,” Shahid wrote. “I urge everyone to refrain from spreading such unsubstantiated claims.” Neither the former minister nor investigators have provided additional details concerning the circumstances of the arrest or the underlying allegations.
The development deals a significant blow to the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), which has been organizing its strategy for the 2028 presidential contest. Shahid stepped down from his role as MDP president in August 2026 specifically to vie for the party’s presidential nomination, positioning himself as a formidable contender to challenge President Muizzu, whose People’s National Congress unseated the MDP administration in 2023.
Shahid’s extensive political resume includes serving as foreign minister from 2018 to 2023 under former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, presiding over the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly from 2021 to 2022, and leading the People’s Majlis as speaker. He also headed the MDP from February 2024 until his resignation in August 2026. As the police investigation continues, the unproven allegations leave the opposition’s leadership landscape in flux ahead of the 2028 cycle.
