Male, Maldives (CU)_ For the first time in the history of Maldives, two women officers, Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Fathmath Thahseena Ibrahim and Lieutenant Colonel Hawwa Sheneen, were named to the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) Advisory Council.
The credentials and the achievements of the two women officers named as the first ever women officials on the MNDF Advisory Council have been released by the MNDF. Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Fathmath Thahseena Ibrahim works as Senahiya Military Hospital Commanding Officer’s Deputy, and Lieutenant Colonel Hawwa Sheneen is currently serving as the Sifainge Co-operative Chief Executive Officer (SIFCO).
Article 14, subsection A of The Armed Forces Act of the Maldives (Law: 1/2008) states that an Advisory Council must be established within MNDF, to contribute to policy-making in relation to the administrative and operational functions of MNDF, in addition to presenting recommendations to the Minister of Defense and the Chief of Defense Force. Under law, The Chief of Defense Force at the time serves as chair to the MNDF Advisory Council.
According to the Armed Forces Act of the Maldives, the Minister of Defense retains the right to nominate anyone from the country’s highest-ranking military officers who they deem fit for the MNDF Advisory Council. The goal of the MNDF Advisory Board is to develop internal policies and to make recommendations to the Minister and Chief of Defense.
