President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu last night has issued a Decree to reconstitute the Addu City Council and establish separate island councils for Meedhoo and Hulhudhoo.

The presidential decree follows the Addu referendum vote held on 25th October, a vote to see whether Hulhudhoo, Meedhoo and Feydhoo should have their own island councils. President Muizzu took the voting results into account when issuing the Decree.

The Addu referendum saw 616 people from Feydhoo vote in favor of a separate council, with 1,784 against. 723 people from Hulhudhoo voted in favor of a separate council, with 329 against. 847 people from Meedhoo voted in favor of a separate council, with 144 against.

As per the new Decree, "Addu" will now be called "Addu CIty". It will be comprised of the administrative divisions of Hithadhoo, Maradhoo, Maradhoo-Feydhoo and Feydhoo. Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo is designated as two distinct islands.

According to the presidential decrees, separate island council elections for Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo will be held on the next scheduled local council election date. President Muizzu confirmed that the decrees will take effect on that date.

The decree outlines that the next local island council election will elect council members. 

The Addu referendum was held upon the request made to President Muizzu from some Hulhudhoo, Meedhoo and Feydhoo residents during the President's 2023 election campaign visit to Addu. 

The Addu referendum vote held last month in Hulhudhoo, Meedhoo and Feydhoo was the first of its kind held under the referendum act.