Ahead of slated elections in Maldives, UN team to conduct fact-finding visit

An inter-agency United Nations fact-finding mission heads to the Maldives on Sunday for a six-day visit to determine whether the world body should provide assistance to forthcoming elections in the Indian Ocean island chain.

The mission, which is being led by the UN Department of Political Affairs (DPA), is expected to meet with a broad range of people in the Maldives during the visit which follows a request from the Government, UN spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters.

These include senior Government officials, political leaders, diplomats, members of civil society, representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other important national actors.

Multi-party presidential elections are expected to be held in the Maldives by October this year, with parliamentary polls likely to be held by early next year.