Maldives state of emergency

A state of emergency was declared in the island nation of the Maldives on Feb. 5 due to political upheaval. The crisis began when the nation’s Supreme Court ordered the release of nine members of Parliament who had been arrested on the orders of President Abdulla Yameen. The court also declared the trial of the former president, Mohamed Nasheed, to have been unconstitutional.

In response, President Yameen disbanded Parliament and the Supreme Court, gave the army broad powers to arrest anyone attempting to enforce the Supreme Court’s edicts and banned public gatherings. After two judges were arrested on Feb. 6, the remaining judges reversed the earlier decisions. 

The US Department of State recommends avoiding crowds and exercising increased caution when traveling to the Maldives.