President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, on Tuesday, accorded city status to the northern island of Kulhudhuffushi in Haa Dhaalu Atoll.
The President stated that the island's city status would be in effect from January 1, 2020, onwards.
Subsequently, Elections Commission (EC) revealed that it had, as per the constitution, initiated efforts to facilitate the election of a city council in Kulhuduffushi at the upcoming local council elections scheduled for April 2020.
There was widespread dissatisfaction among the island's citizens following the government decision to elect an island council for Kulhudhuffushi during the upcoming local council elections as opposed to a city council.
The residents of Kulhudhuffushi also planned to stage protests over the matter and only reverted the decision after the current Council President Abdul Latheef received verbal guarantees that the government would designate the as a city.
The population of Kulhudhuffushi exceeded 10,000 in November 2018.
Kulhudhuffushi becomes the first and only city in the north, and the fourth city in the country after the capital Malé, Addu City and Fuvahmulah City.
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