Maldives leader appoints niece as foreign minister

New Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen has appointed his niece, the daughter former autocratic ruler Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, as the Foreign Minister, reviving the powerful family's influence over the country's politics.
Dhunya Maumoon, 43, was appointed as the Foreign Minister along with five other ministers on Sunday, shortly after Yameen was sworn in as the sixth President the Maldives.
Dhunya's father Abdul Gayoom had ruled the country with an iron fist for 30 years. Yameen is Gayoom's half-brother.
She served as the State Minister for Foreign Affairs under former President Mohamed Waheed Hassan, who took over power after his predecessor Mohaamed Nasheed was toppled in 2012.

Dhunya was a key figure in defending the legitimacy of Waheed's cabinet in the international community following Nasheed's allegations of coup d'etat.
She had previously served as the Assistant Representative of the Maldives Office of the UNFPA and held the post of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2007-2008 during her father's tenure.

Apart from Dhunya, five other ministers were also appointed on Sunday. They had held the same portfolios in the coalition government of Waheed.
Yameen also appointed six more ministers today, with this there are 12 members in his cabinet now.
Ministers who were appointed today are -- Sheikh Ali Shaheem as the Islamic Minister, Umar Naseer as the Home Minister, Mohamed Muizzu as the Housing Minister, Mohamed Shainee as the Fisheries Minister, Thorig Ibrahim as the Environment Minister and Mohamed Saeed as the Economic Minister.

Shaheem and Muizzu had held the same portfolios in president Mohamed Waheed Hassan's cabinet.