The Cabinet has approved administrative measures to conduct a referendum on the jurisdiction of Addu City, following a petition from some residents requesting changes to the composition of the Addu City Council. The decision was made in accordance with the Public Referendum Act.
The referendum will determine whether separate councils should be established for Addu Feydhoo, Addu Hulhudhoo and Addu Meedhoo. Voters will also decide whether to create a single council, Addu Hulhumeedhoo Council, to administer both Addu Hulhudhoo and Addu Meedhoo.
The vote will be open to all registered voters in the constituency and is scheduled to take place on either 24 or 25 October.
The Cabinet further decided to dispatch a ministerial-level team, led by the Ministry of Cities, Local Government and Public Works, and to establish a technical team comprising individuals with expertise on Addu City. These teams will assess the potential implications of changes to the city’s jurisdiction.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has affirmed that the government will remain impartial in the upcoming referendum. In a post on his official X account, the President underlined that the government has no preferred outcome in the referendum and reiterated that the administration would fully respect and implement the decision of the people.
