Nasir, Ibrahim

Born in a noble family of descendants of the royal dynasty of Diyamigili .

In 1957-1968 - Prime Minister

in 1968-1978 - President of the Republic of Maldives .

While still serving as prime minister, Ibrahim Nasir showed the qualities of an authoritarian ruler. In 1957, the terms of the agreement on the deployment of a British military base in favor of the Maldives were revised. In March 1959, the atolls of Addu , Foix Mulaku and Huwadu with a population of 20 thousand inhabitants declared themselves a separate " United Republic of Suvadive " led by President Abdullah Afif Didi . In 1962, the Maldivian government sent military boats and police units to end the separatist movement, Afif Didi fled to the Seychelles , all participants in the uprising were expelled from the capital to remote islands.

After being elected president, Nasir’s rule became even more authoritarian. In the economic sphere, it was the first merchant ship, Indian and Sri Lankan merchants were driven out of the local market, and a state monopoly on foreign trade was announced. The modernization of the Maldivian economy was carried out. However, in the mid-1970s. the economic situation of the republic worsened due to the collapse of the dried fish trade market and the evacuation of the British air base on the island of Gan in March 1976.

In 1974, mass protests of the population began, protesting against price increases. In response, Nasir gave the order to shoot in order to disperse the crowd. There were no casualties. In 1975, the popular prime minister, Ahmed Zaki , was arrested and sent to a remote atoll.

Faced with the growing unpopularity of his rule, Nasir fled to Singapore in November 1978. He was accused of embezzlement of funds from the state treasury.

In 1981, he was convicted in absentia on charges of corruption and coup planning. However, he was later pardoned.

In 2011, Male Airport was renamed in honor of Nasir, which received his name.

• Nasir, 1st Maldivean president, dies