Maldives regime tightens grip with emergency powers

Significance

The emergency decree, announced by the foreign ministry, is in response to the purported discovery by police of explosive devices near Yameen's official residence and the main mosque in the capital, Male. This follows the recent arrest of Vice-President Ahmed Adeeb in connection with an alleged plot to assassinate the president.

Impacts

• A crackdown on civil society and political opponents is set to intensify.
• The Maldives risks becoming a proxy 'battleground' between China, and India and the West.
• All-important tourism revenue will decline, intensifying social discontent that is partly contributing to radicalisation.