Mohamed Waheed Hassan

Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik (Dhivehi: މުޙައްމަދު ވަޙީދު ޙަސަން މަނިކު; born 3 January 1953) is a Maldivian politician who served as the fifth president of the Maldives from 7 February 2012 to 17 November 2013, having previously served as vice president from 2008 to 2012. He assumed the presidency following the resignation of President Mohamed Nasheed. An official Commission of National Inquiry report later concluded the transfer of power was legal and constitutional and that Nasheed's resignation was voluntary.^[1]

During 2013, he ran for president but received about five percent of the vote in the first round. Following court‑ordered reruns and delays, he remained in office until the inauguration of Abdulla Yameen on 17 November 2013.^[2][3][4] In May 2025, President Mohamed Muizzu appointed Waheed as Special Envoy of the President.^[5][6]

Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik was born to Hassan Ibrahim Maniku and Aishath Moosa. He was the first of ten children. Manik attended the American University of Beirut for four years, studying for two of those years in the midst of the Lebanese civil war; completing a bachelor's degree in English Language as well as a diploma in teaching.^[7] By 1976, Manik returned to the Maldives, and took up a post teaching the Language at Jamaluddin School. Manik taught many students who would become highly influential members of Maldivian society both in the government, as well as in the private sector. Among his students is the popular television comedian Yoosuf Rafeeu (commonly known as Yoosay), along with members of the government such as the former Speaker of the Parliament, Abdulla Shahid. Manik also taught many senior civil servants such as the former Elections Commissioner and the former Minister for Presidential Affairs Mohammed Hussein. During this time, Manik helped develop the first English language curriculum in Maldivian schools.

By September 1976, Manik was granted a full scholarship to attend Stanford University in the United States.^[8] After completing his master's degree in education Planning in 1979, he returned home to the Maldives in order to begin working for the Ministry of Education.

During the inauguration of Television Maldives, Manik was the first presenter and the first person to appear on TV.^[9]

Subsequently, he completed his PhD in 1989, becoming the first Maldivian to achieve one, also at Stanford University.^[10] He remained in the United States for two more years due to the necessity of his newly born son to receive medical treatment. And although he had the opportunity to remain in the United States, he elected to return home, giving up his job as a project manager of a technology firm, in San Francisco.

On his return to Maldives from San Francisco (at the end of 1988), he became the director of educational services in the Ministry of Education. He was placed in charge of the Ministry for several months until a new Education Minister was appointed. During this time he also served as a member of the National Council for Dhivehi Language and Literature, a member of the Atolls Development Advisory board, and a member for the Maldives Youth council.

Waheed joined UNICEF in 1992 and served in education and senior management roles in country, regional, and headquarters postings, including as Chief of Education (Tanzania), Deputy/Acting Regional Director in South Asia, and interim representative assignments.^[11] He later served as UNICEF representative in Turkmenistan before returning to the Maldives to enter politics.^[12]

After completing his education, he returned and stood for Parliament. In 1989, Waheed ran against Gayoom's brother-in-law, Ilyas Ibrahim. Despite this opposition, Waheed won the seat.

After his career in the United Nations, Manik returned to the Maldives once again to stand for the leadership of the newly formed Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). Manik lost the leadership election by a narrow margin. Waheed had given up his position in UNICEF. In 2006, after his work with MDP, he took up a consultancy position. In June 2008, Waheed returned to the Maldives and formed his own political party. Later on, most of his party members, including all the senior figures, reverted to MDP: Gaumee Itthihaad.^[13]

Manik was chosen as the presidential candidate of Gaumee Itthihaad Party (GIP) in the beginning of September. However, when the election date was announced in early October, GIP formed a coalition with the Maldivian Democratic Party, after being approached by the two other main opposition groups: the New Maldives Movement and the Jumhooree Party. Though Manik was asked to become the vice presidential candidate for both the other parties, Gaumee Itthihaad chose to form an alliance with the largest opposition party, Maldivian Democratic Party, only days before the deadline for the submission of the candidates names. Mohamed Nasheed who was elected as the presidential candidate of MDP chose Waheed as his running mate in the October 2008 presidential election. This was the first democratic election in the history of the country and ended Gayoom's 30-year reign.

After they won the election, Nasheed and Manik, were sworn in on 11 November 2008, in a special session of the People's Majlis at Dharubaaruge. Manik was inaugurated as the nation's first democratically elected vice president, the first to serve in the post when it was reinstated after over 50 years.^[14]

On 7 February 2012, Manik assumed the presidency following the disputed resignation of President Nasheed, who asserted that he was forced to resign at gunpoint in a coup d'état. A week later, a number of individuals, including Manik's own brother, Naushad Waheed, accused Manik of complicity in the alleged coup. Manik was also criticised both by Nasheed's party and several Human Rights organizations and by the international community for several human rights violations that occurred on the 8th of February following clashes between Nasheed's supporters and the Maldives Police.^[15] Manik and his supporters, however, state that the transfer of power was voluntary and constitutional,^[16][17] and have agreed to launch an independent review of the events surrounding Nasheed's resignation.^[18]

BBC News reported that Manik's subsequent appointment of several ministers associated with the former president Gayoom "raised eyebrows", and that "most believe other forces were at play" behind the protests that chased Nasheed from office.^[19] On 11 February, Manik offered a unity cabinet, but this offer was rejected by Nasheed's supporters.^[20] On 19 February, Waheed appointed Gayoom's daughter Dhunya Maumoon a State Minister, prompting a new round of criticism, but also appointed Shaheem Ali Saeed, who is "considered progressive".^[21]

In the weeks following the alleged coup, Nasheed requested that the Commonwealth of Nations threaten the Maldives with expulsion unless new elections are held. The Commonwealth has supported Nasheed's call for early elections, calling on both Nasheed and Waheed to enter talks to arrange new polls before the year's end. Manik said that early elections could be possible, but that "the conditions have to be right to ensure there will be free and fair elections".^[22]

On 1 March 2012, Manik was blocked from opening the Maldivian Parliament by Nasheed, who accused him of breaking a promise to set a date for a new election.^[16] On 19 March, he attempted to open parliament again and was once more blocked by Nasheed pro parliamentarians. Four opposition MPs were removed from the building when they tried to physically assault Manik during his speech.^[23][17] Manik responded with a speech calling for national unity.^[23]

Mohamed Nasheed initially claimed that a coup d'état had occurred, however these claims were proven false by an independent report from the Commission of National Inquiry (CoNI).^[24] Nasheed initially accepted this report "with reservations", but later refuted it in its entirety. The Commission of National Inquiry was constituted on the 21st of February 2012 and published its report on 30 August 2012. The CoNI was composed of 5 members and two advisors, including representatives of the United Nations and Commonwealth. Former Supreme Court Justice of Singapore G.P. Selvam was nominated by the Commonwealth to head the Commission. The CoNI's 5 Members also included a representative of Nasheed who was actively involved in the entire process of the report from investigation to drafting, but resigned on 29 August 2012, the day before the CoNI Report was published. Speaking on his resignation, the two advisors - representatives of the United Nations and Commonwealth stated that “Four of the five members [of CoNI] acted with independence and integrity in carrying out the important task for the future of the nation. The other member [nominated by Nasheed] was not at all times willing or able to act independently and resigned the evening before this report was submitted and published... Without any justification, [he] created discord and mistrust in a community which desperately needs reconciliation.”^[25]

The CoNI Report concluded that "in sum, the Commission concludes that there was no illegal coercion or intimidation nor any coup d’état. The Commission has received no evidence supporting or to substantiate these allegations."^[26] "In summary, the Commission’s findings are as follows:

• The change of President in the Republic of Maldives on 7 February 2012 was legal and constitutional.^[27]
• The events that occurred on 6 and 7 February 2012 were, in large measure, reactions to the actions of President Nasheed.^[27]
• The resignation of President Nasheed was voluntary and of his own free will. It was not caused by any illegal coercion or intimidation.^[27]
• There were acts of police brutality on 6, 7 and 8 February 2012 that must be investigated and pursued further by the relevant authorities.^[27]

Waheed stood as an independent candidate in the 2013 election but polled about five percent in the first round.^[28] The Supreme Court annulled the initial first round citing irregularities and ordered a new vote, leading to a series of postponements.^[29][3] Waheed left office upon Abdulla Yameen’s inauguration on 17 November 2013.^[4]

After Manik withdrew his nomination in the 2013 presidential elections, he switched parties to the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) in the same year. During his time in the PPM, he was appointed to a special posiiton within the party.^[30]

In 2022, he gave a video speech at the China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Development Cooperation discussing about the effects of climate change in the Maldives.^[31]

He expressed interest in running for president in the 2023 Maldivian presidential election if president Abdulla Yameen was unable to.^[32]

He later left the PPM in 2023 citing that he feels that he should be using his skills to benefit Maldivian citizens.^[10] In the same year, he joined the Jumhooree Party (JP).^[33]

In 2025, Manik was appointed by president Mohamed Muizzu as a Special Envoy of the President without renumeration.^[34][35]

Manik was the first vice president to succeed to presidency, when president Mohamed Nasheed resigned after a mutiny until November 2013.^[36] Nasheed alleged that a coup was staged against him which led to Manik becoming the president, which he denied the allegations. Critics of Manik called him a "Baghee", an Arabic word for traitor.^[37][38] Many accused Manik of being a traitor and a puppet being controlled by a higher power.^[39]

Soon after taking office during his first press conference, he infamously asked, ‘Do I look like a man who would stage a coup d’état?’.^[40] Although he vehemently denies being part of a coup, during a press conference he revealed, ’I have proud political parties in this country who are backing me. And then I have all the law enforcement agencies’ fully backing me.’^[41]

In August 2025, a controversy sparked in the Maldives with the release of U.S. court documents which showed that in 2012 Manik had emailed Jeffrey Epstein to inquire about a US$ 500 million dollar loan for the Maldivian government.^[42] Epstein's emails had also revealed that in 2014 he emailed the former prime minister of Israel Ehud Barak to meet with Peter Thiel in New York City noting that the 'former president of the Maldives' would be in attendance.^[42] Many assume it's Manik as public records show Nasheed and Gayoom in the Maldives.^[42] Public backlash ignited on Twitter as many Maldivians wondered why a convicted sex offender was consulted on a multimillion dollar financing deal.^[42]

In November 2025, documents released by the U.S. House Oversight Committee revealed that Manik and Epstein had a very extensive relationship. Manik went to Epstein to advice regarding a suspicious financial proposal that came from his finance minister, Abdulla Jihad.^[43] Manik had met Epstein in the U.S. in various occasions such as during the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly where they met for a private dinner and at one of Epstein's residences where he met Thorbjørn Jagland and Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem.^[44] Email correspondence between Manik and Epstein showed Manik asking Epstein for advice as Manik was creating his campaign team for the 2013 elections.^[44] He had also asked Epstein for help regarding managing negative international press about the Maldives during his presidency.^[44] It's been alleged that after the passing of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, more information between the two would be revealed.^[45]

He is married to Ilham Hussain, founder of Maldives Autism Association. They have three children: Widhadh, Fidha and Jeffrey Salim Waheed.

Jeffery Salim Waheed was posted as Additional Secretary Deputy Minister during Abdulla Yameen’s tenure.

In 2013, Manik was awarded the Star of Palestine honour by the president of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas.^[46] In 2024, he was awarded the Global Islamic Finance Leadership Award by Global Islamic Finance Awards for creating the Islamic Bank of Maldives, Hajj Corporation, and Sukuk in the Maldives during his presidency.^[47]

This is a list of presidential international trips made by Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik as the 5th president of the Maldives from February 2012 to November 2013. At the end of his presidential term, Manik made 13 trips to 12 countries.