President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has ratified key legal changes that overhaul the Maldives’ decentralised governance framework by abolishing atoll councils and restructuring local councils and women’s bodies.

The 17th Amendment to the Decentralisation Act, passed by the 20th People’s Majlis on 27 November 2025, has come into force following ratification and publication in the Government Gazette.

Under the amendment, atoll councils will be abolished from the next local council elections, with each inhabited island in non-city constituencies to be governed solely by its island council.

Island councils will report to the Local Government Authority and remain answerable to island residents.

Councils on islands with fewer than 2,000 residents will have three members, including one woman, while islands with 2,000 or more residents will have five members, including two women.

The Malé City Council will consist of a mayor plus councillors equal to the number of Majlis members from Malé, while Fuvahmulah City Council will have a mayor and one councillor from each of its eight wards.

The amendment also reshapes Women’s Development Committees by making the WDC Chairperson a full‑time, directly elected post and granting WDC chairpersons representation on the LGA Board.

It further sets out conditions under which councillors lose their seat if they change or newly adopt party affiliation contrary to the ticket on which they were elected.

Separately, the President has ratified the Seventh Amendment to the Constitution, also now in effect after its passage by the Majlis on 25 November 2025 and publication in the Gazette.

This constitutional change removes the provision for establishing atoll councils under the decentralised governance system.

Existing atoll councils will continue to operate until the first local council elections held after ratification, at which point they will be dissolved once new councils assume office.