Abdulla Shahid facts for kids

Quick facts for kids His Excellency Abdulla Shahid NIIV
ޢަބްދުﷲ ޝާހިދު
Shahid in 2023
President of the 76th UN General Assembly
In office 14 September 2021 – 13 September 2022
Preceded by	Volkan Bozkır
Succeeded by	Csaba Kőrösi
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 17 November 2018 – 17 November 2023
President	Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
Preceded by	Mohamed Asim
Succeeded by	Moosa Zameer
In office 23 August 2007 – 11 November 2008
President	Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom
Preceded by	Ahmed Shaheed
Succeeded by	Ahmed Shaheed
16th Speaker of the People's Majlis
In office 28 May 2008 – 28 May 2014
President	Mohamed Nasheed Mohammed Waheed Hassan Abdulla Yameen
Preceded by	Mohamed Shihab
Succeeded by	Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed
Member of Parliament
In office 28 May 2014 – 14 November 2018
Constituency	Henveiru Uthuru
Member of Parliament for Keyodhoo constituency
In office 28 May 2008 – 28 May 2014
President’s Member to the Special Majlis
President’s Member to the People’s Majlis
Vaavu Atoll Member to the Special Majlis
Executive Secretary to the President
President of the Maldivian Democratic Party
Incumbent
Assumed office 20 February 2024
Preceded by	Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
Personal details
Born	(1962-05-26) 26 May 1962 (age 62) Malé, Sultanate of the Maldives
Political party	Maldivian Democratic Party(2013–present)
Other political affiliations	Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (before 2013)
Children	3
Parents	Maimoona Wajeeh Moosa Jameel
Alma mater	Canberra College of Advanced Education, Australia Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, USA
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Abdulla Shahid, NIIV (Dhivehi: ޢަބްދުﷲ ޝާހިދު; born 26 May 1962) is a Maldivian politician who served as President of the 76th United Nations General Assembly between 2021 and 2022 and is the current president of the Maldivian Democratic Party. Shahid is the first Maldivian politician to hold that post. He had served as minister of foreign affairs from 2018 to 2023.

Early life and education

Shahid joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1984, then he had his bachelor's degree in political science at the Canberra College of Advanced Education in 1987. In 1990, he was a member of the advisory board of President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom until 1994. In the meantime, he took a master's degree in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University in 1991.

Career

Shahid served as the Speaker of the People’s Majlis of the Maldives from 2009 to 2014. He was elected as the Speaker of the People’s Majlis on 28 May 2009, the seventeenth holder of the position. He won 42 votes out of 75 votes. Shahid played a key role in the Maldives’ transition to democracy in 2008. Abdulla Shahid is a member of MDP and was the parliament member for Henveiru Uthuru (South Henveiru).

Shahid meets with U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. (20 February 2019).

Prior to his role as an MP, Shahid served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1984, eventually becoming director in 1993. In this capacity, he also headed the International Organizations and Conferences Department, representing the Maldives at meetings and international gatherings including the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organization of Islamic Conference.

Member of Parliament

In 2000, Shahid was elected as the representative of the Vaavu Atoll constituency and served two terms as the Atoll’s member. Shahid served in the Special Majlis (July 2004 – August 2008) which drafted the new Constitution of the Maldives. In May 2009, in the first multi-party parliamentary elections of the Maldives, Shahid won the Keyodhoo Constituency.

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Shahid served as minister of foreign affairs from 23 August 2007 to 11 November 2008, in the presidency of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. He had been appointed Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in 2005.

On 15 April 2013, Shahid resigned from the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party. On 18 April 2013, he announced on Twitter that he had signed up for Maldivian Democratic Party.

UN General Assembly President

On 7 June 2021, Shahid was elected as the 76th President of the United Nations General Assembly with an overwhelming 75 percent majority, with 143 in favour, 48 against, and no abstentions or invalid votes. On 23 December 2021, Shahid tested positive for COVID-19.

Maldivian Democratic Party President

After the resignation of MDP's president, Mohamed Nasheed, Shahid applied for the post of president. He was the only person to apply and thus became the president.

Honours

•  Maldives:
  • Order of the Distinguished Rule of Izzuddin - 2021
•  Dominican Republic:
  • Grand Cross with Silver Breast Star of the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella - 2022
•  Guatemala:
  • Grand Cross of the Order of Antonio José de Irisarri - 2022

See also

In Spanish: Abdulla Shahid para niños