China-backed candidate Mohamed Muizzu elected Maldives president

China-backed candidate Mohamed Muizzu defeated pro-India President Ibrahim Solih in the presidential runoff in the Maldives. Solih trailed Muizzu by 7% votes in the first round and failed to secure the additional votes needed to win the runoff. Muizzu accused Solih of seeking India’s endorsement for every decision, which he claimed undermined the Maldives’ independence and sovereignty.