Former President Mohamed Nasheed has returned to Maldives after spending three years in exile.
The Former president was accompanied by his wife Laila Ali, as well as President-Elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. They travelled from Colombo, Sri Lana. The former first couple was welcomed at Velana International Airport (VIA) by the leadership of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and leaders of political parties of the opposition coalition.
After a Supreme Court temporary order to defer the implementation of the 13 year jail sentence passed on the former president until the bench comes to a decision regarding the sentence, Nasheed remains a free man.
The capital has been coloured yellow, with throngs of supporters donning yellow T-shirts who line the streets, while a fleet of vessels decked out in MDP party flags are waiting to escort the Former First Couple, back to Male’ City.