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City Spotlight: Addu City, Maldives

Addu City, the country’s second-largest urban area, has a population of more than 33,000 and is divided into six districts. The City Council is involved in numerous development initiatives to enhance the city’s infrastructure and living conditions with support from the national government and multilateral partners. Addu City representatives have engaged with Strong Cities on multiple occasions, including at the South Asia Regional Hub’s regional workshops in January 2023 and August 2023. Addu City joined Strong Cities in March 2023 and is a member of its International Steering Committee 

What is the local government concerned about?

Addu City has been facing challenges in providing public services to its residents due to a lack of resources and systemic corruption which has plagued the local government for years, according to Mayor Ali Nizar. For instance, there has been a lack of access to medication, water and sanitation, and electricity as well as inadequate infrastructural development of roads, housing and youth facilities. Additionally, national government public enterprises have failed to pay wages of farmers and fishermen in the city which has led to protests and rioting in June 2024. Another issue is that as a result of the lack of adequate employment opportunities on the island, more youth have been joining gangs and other malign groups. 

Governance challenges have fuelled extremist groups and views on the island. In May 2021, nine individuals were arrested for supporting violent extremism. These arrests were part of a broader crackdown on terrorists following an attempted political assassination on the Speaker of Parliament in the Maldives capital of Malé. In July 2023, the US Department of the Treasury designated leaders of an ISIS-affiliated cell operating in Addu City, which was involved in planning and attempting to execute terror plots by facilitating operations and providing financial support to ISIS fighters​. 

How is the local government responding?

The Council has adopted socio-ecological models to understand and address socio-economic grievances of its residents. This includes engaging youth to build protective factors against radicalisation and comprehensive intervention plans that consider various social and ecological factors. Additionally, in cooperation with the Maldives National University, the local government has launched an initiative to strengthen youth leadership skills, especially among young women, and to provide more opportunities for youth engagement. 

The City Council has also sought to improve public service delivery and prioritised infrastructure development and community involvement in decision-making and management processes through panel discussions and other fora. Recently, the President of the Maldives approved a proposal to transform Addu City into a “vibrant developed global hub”. In collaboration with the Ministry of Cities, Local Government and Public Works, this proposal aims to address community grievances through urban development. It will produce new infrastructure such as a bridge connecting the islands, a hospital and help implement the Addu Asseyri Tourism Development Plan with a view to contribute to Addu’s local economy. The City envisions that these local development initiatives will yield job opportunities for youth that will contribute to their resilience and reduce gang involvement.  

To strengthen transparency, the Council regularly updates its official website with information on new policies and initiatives to ensure easier access to information and accountability​​. By addressing these governance issues, the Council aims to improve residents’ wellbeing and reduce grievances that can be exploited by malign groups.  

Addu City Council has received training from international organisations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to enhance local capacities for preventing extremism through community engagement and educational initiatives. Additionally, UNDP has supported the development of the Maldives’ National Action Plan on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism, which serves as the foundation for Addu City’s prevention efforts, which includes coordination with the National Counter-Terrorism Committee on localising the key initiatives listed in the National Action Plan.  

What’s next?

In the future, the Council will focus on enhancing community resilience through education and awareness programmes aimed at preventing radicalisation and promoting social cohesion and inclusivity. It is also seeking to strengthen the capacities of the Addu City Women’s Development Committee to launch gender-sensitive policies and initiatives in the city.  

The Council will continue engaging youth and local civil society organisations as a critical component of its approach to prevention. Initiatives to strengthen and operationalise youth councils, which aim at empowering young people through strengthening their leadership skills and providing them platforms for positive community participation, will remain a core part of the Council’s plan. 

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