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Description Maldives by rbd.me
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The Maldives was long a sultanate, first under Dutch and then under British protection. It became a republic in 1968, three years after independence. President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM dominated the islands' political scene for 30 years, elected to six successive terms by single-party referendums. Following riots in the capital Male in August 2004, the president and his government pledged to embark upon democratic reforms including a more representative political system and expanded political freedoms. Progress was sluggish, however, and many promised reforms were slow to be realized. Nonetheless, political parties were legalized in 2005. In June 2008, a constituent assembly - termed the "Special Majlis" - finalized a new constitution, which was ratified by the president in August. The first-ever presidential elections under a multi-candidate, multi-party system were held in October 2008. GAYOOM was defeated in a runoff poll by Mohamed NASHEED, a political activist who had been jailed several years earlier by the former regime. Challenges facing the new president include strengthening democracy and combating poverty and drug abuse. Maldives officials have been prominent participants in international climate change talks due to the islands' low elevation and the threat from sea-level rise.
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Location
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Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India
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Area - comparative
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about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC
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Natural resources Maldives
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tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
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Population Maldives
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depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching
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Religions Maldives
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NA
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Languages
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South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs
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Education Maldives expenditures
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Sunni Muslim
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Government Maldives type
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Maldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English spoken by most government officials
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Independence
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republic
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Maldives Economy - overview
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the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Ambassador Patricia A. BUTENIS, is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits
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Investment Maldives
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16% (2008)
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Industries Maldives
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tourism, fish processing, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining
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Airports Maldives
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Male
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