Former Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Abdulla Shamaal has concluded his military career with distinction, officially retiring from the armed forces.
Lt Gen Shamaal, who assumed the role of Chief of Defence Forces in December 2018 during President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's administration, bid farewell to military service yesterday. The new Chief of Defence Forces under Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's government is Major General Abdul Raheem Abdul Latheef, who previously held the position of Vice-Chief in the preceding government.
"After 35 years of dedicated service, Shamaal retired from the armed forces," stated the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) in an announcement last evening. He holds the prestigious rank of Lieutenant General, making him only the second person in the history of the armed forces to achieve this position, which is the second-highest rank.
Lt Gen Shamaal attained the rank of Lieutenant General earlier this year, following in the footsteps of retired Lt Gen Anbari Abdul Sattar, the sole individual previously holding this rank.
As the head of day-to-day operations for the MNDF, the Chief of Defence Forces is appointed and dismissed by the president.
While Lt Gen Shamaal embarks on his retirement, former Police Commissioner Mohamed Hameed has also recently retired from the police service.
Sign In