♤ In 2013 Abdulla Yameen was elected president in 2013

♤ Nasheed Was jailed for 13 years in 2015 on terrorism charges, his conviction was widely condemned internationally. In 2016 Mohd. Nasheed received poltical asylum in the UK.

♤ In June 2016 opposition groups united to form the Maldives United Opposition, with a purpose of restoring democracy by removing Yameen.

♤ In recent times, India has been largely silent on the major assault on democratic institutions and the Opposition in the archipelego nation, while most countries which have a stake in the region, including the US, UK, and the European Union, have condemned the Yameen Government's transgressions.

♤ In February 2018 the Maldivian Supreme Court quashed the convictions of 9 opposition leaders including Mohd. Nasheed and ordered their release. The court also reinstated 12 MPs disqualified by the election commission, this meant the United Oppositio would have majority in the majlis or parliament with the power to impeach the president.

♤ President Yameen responded by declaring a state of emergency and ordering the arrest of chief justice Abdulla Saeed and another judge. This forced the remaining three judges to change court’s previous orders to release opposition leaders.