Maldives: State of emergency to end March 22

Event

On Wednesday, March 14, the Maldivian government declared it would not extend the ongoing state of emergency - currently set to expire on March 22 - as security conditions in the island country have returned to normal. Security forces will nevertheless remain deployed in the capital Malé and a number of other towns to prevent anti-government demonstrations until March 22. However, this and other measures enacted by the state of emergency have reportedly not had a noticeable impact on civilians, expatriates, or tourists in the country.

Context

President Abdulla Yameen initially declared a 15-day state of emergency on February 5, which was then prolonged by parliament for an additional 30 days upon Yameen's request.

Advice

Individuals present in the Maldives are advised to exercise caution and to avoid any protests or rallies.