ALL EYES ON MALDIVES AS ISLAND VOTES IN CRUCIAL RUN-OFF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

Voters in the Maldives on Saturday were taking part in a crucial presidential runoff election, one that carries significant implications for the nation's emerging democracy and its bilateral ties with India and China. 

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Saturday's contest features two main contenders: incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, an advocate for closer ties with India, and Mohamed Muizzu, the former mayor of the capital city Male, whose Opposition coalition pursued stronger connections with China during his tenure from 2013 to 2018, marked by a notable crackdown on dissenters.

During the initial round of voting on 8 September, Muizzu took a surprising lead with approximately 46% of total votes, while Solih secured 39%. However, with Solih aiming to rally voters through additional promises of benefits, such as housing and wage increases, the outcome of this run-off remains highly unpredictable. Voting began at 8 am local time and concluded at 5 pm, followed by the immediate counting of votes. The results are expected to become known within hours, with approximately 282,804 eligible voters in a country with a population of 500,000.