Mohamed Nasheed is a Maldivian politician, democracy advocate, and internationally recognised climate campaigner. Born on 17 May 1967 in Malé, Maldives, he completed his secondary education in Colombo before studying Maritime Studies at Liverpool John Moores University in the United Kingdom, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1989.
Nasheed began his public life as a journalist and political activist during a period of one-party rule in the Maldives. His criticism of the government and advocacy for democratic reforms led to multiple arrests and periods of imprisonment. In 2003, he became one of the founding figures of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), which campaigned for political reform and multi-party democracy.
Following the introduction of multi-party elections, Nasheed won the 2008 presidential election, defeating long-serving President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. He became the first democratically elected President of the Maldives and served from 2008 to 2012. During his presidency, he focused on democratic institution-building, social development, and climate change advocacy. His government gained international attention in 2009 when it held an underwater cabinet meeting to highlight the existential threat of rising sea levels facing small island states.
After leaving office, Nasheed continued to play a major role in Maldivian politics. He served as Speaker of the People’s Majlis, the Maldivian parliament, from 2019 to 2023. He has also been a leading global advocate for climate-vulnerable countries and served as the first Secretary-General of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF).
In June 2026, Nasheed was elected Chairperson of the Maldivian Democratic Party. He continues to contribute to discussions on democracy, governance, climate resilience, and international cooperation.
