Ghassan urges vigilance on Victory Day, saying nations face threats beyond guns and visible enemies

Former Defence Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon said on Tuesday, as the Maldives marked Victory Day, that the independence and sovereignty of nations are not threatened only by “sword and gun”. 

Ghassan made the remark in a post on X, recalling the November 3, 1988 attack by Tamil militants and foreign mercenaries, and extended his Victory Day wishes.

Ghassan, who was eight years old at the time of the attack, shared a childhood photo from 1988 with his father, former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. He said he has full confidence that the Maldivian army would protect the country today with the blessings of Allah, just as it sacrificed blood and lives to defend the nation on November 3, 1988.

ނަޞްރުގެ ދުވަހުގެ ހެޔޮއެދުންތައް އެންމެހާ ލޮބުވެތި އުޚުތުންނާއި އަޚުންނަށް ދަންނަވަމެވެ. 3 ނޮވެންބަރ 1988 ގައި ދިވެހި ސިފައިން ކުރެއްވި މަތިވެރި ޖިހާދަށް އެދުވަހު ފަޚުރުވެރިފަދައިން، މިއަދުވެސް، ދިވެހި ސިފައިންގެ އިޚްލާސްތެރިކަމާއި ހިތްވަރާއި، އަޒުމު - ޙުއްބުލްވަތަންގެ ސިފަތައް - ގާތުން ދެކިލުމުގެ ފުރުސަތު ލިބި ތަޖުރިބާކުރެވިފައިވާތީ ދިވެހި ސިފައިންނަށް ފަޚުރުވެރި މިވަނީ ނުހަނު ލޮއިއްބާ އެކުގައެވެ. ރާއްޖޭގެ މިނިވަންކަމާއި، ސިޔާދަތާއި، އިސްތިގުލާލު، ލެޔާއި ފުރާނައިން ޤުރުބާން ވެގެންވެސް އެދުވަހެކޭ އެއްފަދައިން މާތް ﷲ ގެ ރަޙްމަތްފުޅާއިއެކު މިއަދުވެސް ދިވެހި ސިފައިން ޙިމާޔަތް ކުރައްވާނެކަން އަޅުގަނޑަށް ކަށަވަރެވެ. އަދުގެދުނިޔޭގައި، ޤައުމުތަކުގެ މިނިވަންކަމަށާއި، އަމިއްލަވަންތަކަމާއި، އެއްބައެއްވަންތަކަމަށާއި އަދި ސިޔާދަތާއި އިސްތިގުލާލަށް އަސަރު ފޯރުވަނީ ހަމަ އެކަނި ކަނޑި، ބަޑީންނެތް ނޫނެވެ. ހަމަ އެކަނި ބޭރަކުންވެސް ނޫނެވެ. ހަމައެކަނި ދުޟްމަނުންގެ ގޮތުގައި އަޅުގަނޑުމެން ދެކޭ ފަރާތްތަކަކުންވެސް ނޫނެވެ. ހަމައެކަނި ޤައުމަށް ފާޅުކަންބޮޑު ގޮތެއްގައި ގެއްލުން ލިބިދާނެކަމަށް ފެންނަ ކަންކަމަކުން އެކަޏެއްވެސް ނޫނެވެ. ރައްކާވެ ތިބިއްޔާ ދަތުރެވެ.

— Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon (@mgmaumoon) November 3, 2026

Ghassan, who served as the first Defence Minister of the current administration, wrote that he remains deeply proud of the MNDF, having witnessed the sincerity, courage and determination of the soldiers up close. However, he stressed that in today’s world, the independence, sovereignty, unity and autonomy of nations are affected by far more than weapons or visible enemies.

“In today’s world, the freedom, autonomy, solidarity and sovereignty of nations are affected not only by guns, not just by outsiders, and not just by those we see as enemies, and not only by things we feel will demerit the nation. Better safe than sorry,” Ghassan wrote.

The November 3 attack targeted then-President Maumoon, and Ghassan, the youngest of his four children, was with his parents inside the presidential palace Theemuge’ when militants entered Male' and began shooting. Hearing gunfire, the family escaped through the back entrance of Theemuge and took shelter in a nearby house. Ghassan, who encountered two militants on the way, has previously shared the terrifying experience.

As Defence Minister, he had repeatedly emphasised the importance of commemorating Victory Day at the national level.

The opposition has recently described the government’s Rasmale' project as a threat to national security, alleging it could allow Israelis to settle in the Maldives. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, however, has said he is confident that only Maldivians and Muslims from other countries will settle in Rasmale'.