A large crowd gathered at Malé’s Artificial Beach area this evening as President Dr Mohamed Muizzu arrived for the People’s National Congress (PNC) rally, an event the President said has been long in preparation. He was greeted by a significant number of supporters before heading to the venue.

The rally officially began at 8:30 p.m., with some attendees making their way from the Artificial Beach gathering to Henveiru Stadium, where the main ceremony was held.

Addressing the crowd, President Dr Muizzu stated that approximately 13,000 people were participating in the event.

The Maldives has seen some of its largest political gatherings organised by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). One of the most notable was in 2018, when nearly 50,000 people reportedly turned out to welcome former President Mohamed Nasheed upon his return to the country.

Tonight’s PNC rally was held to celebrate the achievements of President Muizzu’s administration in its first two years. First Lady Sajidha Mohamed, Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef, senior government officials, and PNC parliamentarians were also in attendance.