Dunya Maumoon

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Dunya Maumoon
ދުންޔާ މައުމޫން
Maumoon in 2019
Minister of State for Health
In office
05 January 2017 – 27 February 2018
PresidentAbdulla Yameen
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
17 November 2013 – 05 July 2016
PresidentAbdulla Yameen
Preceded byMariyam Shakeela (acting)
Succeeded byMohamed Asim
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
In office
19 February 2012 – 17 November 2013
PresidentMohamed Waheed Hassan
Personal details
Born (1970-03-20) 20 March 1970 (age 55)
Zaria, Nigeria
Political partyIndependent (2023–present)
Other political
affiliations		Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (2005–2011)
Progressive Party of Maldives (2011–2019; 2023–2023)
Maldives Reform Movement (2019–2021)
Maldives National Party (2021–2023)
RelationsGayoom family
Parent(s)Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
Nasreena Ibrahim

Dunya Maumoon (Dhivehi: ދުންޔާ މައުމޫން; born 20 March 1970) is a Maldivian politician who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2013 to 2016 of the Maldives.[1]

Personal life

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Dunya Maumoon with her daughter Sarraa Shah

Dunya Maumoon was the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives from 2013 to 2016.[2]  She is the eldest daughter of former president of Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and the sister to Ahmed Faris Maumoon

Career

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Early career

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Maumoon began her professional career at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in the Maldives in 1998.

Political career

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From 2009 to 2012, Maumoon was involved in both the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party and later in the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) as Council Member and had a role in the Women's Movements.

Deputy Minister and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs

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After her tenure with the UNFPA, in January 2007, Maumoon took up the position of Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Maumoon was appointed Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, by President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan, in February 2012.[3]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Nov 2013 – July 2016)

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Maumoon served as the Foreign Minister of the Maldives from November 2013 until July 2016.[4][5] Maumoon was the first female Foreign Minister of the Maldives.

Maumoon played a key role in establishing and re‐energising close ties with traditional friends such as India,[6] Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Maumoon provided leadership for the Maldivians in its second term serving on the UN's Human Rights Council.[7]

State Minister for Health

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Maumoon later rejoined the government as the Minister of State for Health. Her rejoining her uncle Abdulla Yameen's government was denounced by her father, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.[8][9] Maumoon later resigned in 2018 amid the political crisis.[10]

During the 2024 Maldivian parliamentary election, Maumoon ran for the South Hulhumalé constituency.[11]

Education

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She obtained a B.A.(Honors) degree in Social Anthropology at the University of Cambridge in England in 1992. She went on to complete a MPhil Degree at the London School of Economic & Political Science (LSE) in 1996, where the focus of her research was “Gender Activism & the Islamic Revival”.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "Hindustan Times - Archive News". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 2013-01-25. Retrieved 2019-05-03.
  2. ^ "President appoints State Minister to Ministry of Health". The President's Office. Retrieved 2019-05-16.
  3. ^ "President appoints Minister of State for Foreign Affairs". The President's Office. 19 February 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  4. ^ "President appoints some Cabinet Ministers". The President's Office. 17 November 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  5. ^ "Maldives foreign minister resigns citing opposition to death penalty". Maldives Independent. 5 July 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  6. ^ "India did not raise issue of political prisoners, says foreign minister". Maldives Independent. 12 April 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  7. ^ Mission, Maldives. "Home". Permanent Mission of the Republic of Maldives to the UN. Retrieved 2019-05-16.
  8. ^ "President appoints State Minister to Ministry of Health". The President's Office. 5 January 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  9. ^ "Dunya rejoins Yameen's government". Maldives Independent. 5 January 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  10. ^ "Dunya Maumoon resigns as state health minister". Maldives Independent. 27 February 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  11. ^ "Dunya Maumoon". Elections Commission. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  12. ^ Maumoon, Dunya (1996). Gender activism and the Islamic revival (PhD). London School of Economics and Political Science. Retrieved 3 June 2021.