Commonwealth special envoy Dr Willy Mutunga tasked with ending the ongoing political strife in the Maldives has concluded his first to the archipelago.
In a statement Kenya's former chief justice noted his meetings with president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, government ministers, political leaders, judiciary, police, civil society and international partners.
“My aim on this first visit was to listen, and listen well, to the broad range of views and concerns of all stakeholders. This aim was achieved. My initial consultations will continue in the weeks ahead.” Mutunga said after ending his five day visit.
Mutunga also said he would aim to work with all actors in assisting the development of independent and accountable democratic institutions.
"These are essential to protecting the fundamental rights and freedoms of the Maldivian people."
Mutunga who retired last month was appointed as the special envoy to the Maldives where he is expected to aid in the process of constitutional and political transition.
“The overarching mandate is to support a sustainable political dialogue process leading to a stronger climate of pluralism and inclusive elections in 2018,” Dr Mutunga was quoted by the Kenyan media shortly after his appointment.
Mutunga’s mandate is to “consult with all relevant stakeholders to encourage the strengthening of a pluralist, multi-party democracy, steps towards credible and inclusive presidential elections in 2018 and the advancement of reforms to give full effect to the separation of powers,” according to the Commonwealth.
The Commonwealth has described Mutunga as a reformist and an academic with “an expansive career in the areas of constitutional reform, mediation and coalition building.”
The Commonwealth has meanwhile threatened action if there is no progress on dialogue by September.
The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, a watchdog body comprising of eight foreign ministers, laid out a six-point reform agenda in February, which includes the release of political prisoners and judicial reform.
Mutunga arrived in the island nation days after the United Nations envoy, Tamrat Samuel, who has been mediating the all-party talks in the Maldives, left the archipelago after appealing to political parties to resolve issues through compromise and dialogue.
The UN envoy had begun the proxy talks after the main opposition parties refused to sit-down with government demanding the release of all jailed political leaders as a pre-condition for the talks.
Opposition parties have refused to engage in direct talks with the government before jailed political leaders are released.
Government had invited all political leaders in exile to return to the Maldives to join the all party talks assuring that there was no danger for opposition figures.
The opposition meanwhile has announced a united front to oust president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom from office and form an interim government until the next presidential elections in 2018.
The Maldives United Opposition (MUO) brings together the Maldivian Democratic Party, the Adhaalath Party, two of president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s former deputies and his former defence minister.
The MUO was established in London where key members of the opposition are in exile including Yameen’s first vice president Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed and former president Mohamed Nasheed.
Nasheed’s jailing on a terror charge last year was a key trigger of the current political crisis. He was allowed to leave the country in an internationally brokered deal in January.
Jameel had meanwhile fled to the UK last July, days before he was impeached in a controversial vote. At the time, the Adhaalath Party leader Sheikh Imran Abdulla and former Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim were already in jail.
Nasheed was sentenced to 13 years in jail last year but was given asylum in Britain after traveling there for back surgery. Nazim is serving an 11-year jail term for possessing a firearm, and former vice president Ahmed Adheeb Abdul Ghafoor was sentenced to 25 years in prison last week on two counts of terrorism charges, including an assassination attempt on the president.
MUO had announced that it would represent all political opponents in the talks.
However, the government has refused to recognize the opposition alliance.
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