Foreign Minister of Abdulla Shahid has been elected as the President of the United Nation's General Assembly's 76th session on Monday.
Minister Shahid ran against former Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Dr. Zalmai Rassoul. Shahid won the election with 143 votes while Afghanistan received 48 votes.
President of Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih congratulated Minister Shahid for this accomplishment.
"This is a great honour for Maldives and I have no doubt Min. Shahid will do us all proud as UNGA President," the President had said while offering his felicitations.
Warm congratulations to Foreign Minister @abdulla_shahid for winning the election for the Presidency of the 76th UN General Assembly by a resounding margin of 143 votes. This is a great honour for Maldives and I have no doubt Min. Shahid will do us all proud as UNGA President.
— Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (@ibusolih) June 7, 2021
Minister Shahid dedicated the win for all Maldivians while addressing the assembly after the election.
Minister Shahid was nominated as the Maldives candidate for the election by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. He is the first Maldivian candidate to have been elected for this position and the sixth President from a Small Island Developing State.
The Maldives joined the United Nations on 21 September 1965, soon after gaining independence and has since been an active member. September of 2021 will mark 56 years since Maldives joined the United Nations.