The oath-taking ceremony for newly elected council members of the fifth term of local councils, along with the pledge-signing ceremony for members of the Women’s Development Committees (WDCs), will be held on 17 May 2026. The ceremonies will take place simultaneously across all islands and cities of the Maldives.

This process is mandated under the Decentralization Act (Act No. 7/2010), which requires all elected council members and WDC members to formally assume office through an oath-taking and pledge-signing ceremony at the beginning of each term. The first such ceremony under this Act was held on 26 February 2011.

Following the completion of the oath-taking and pledge-signing, the newly constituted councils will convene their first official meetings. During these meetings, vice presidents of the councils will be elected, marking a key step in formally commencing the work of the new term.

Similarly, members of the Women’s Development Committees will also hold their initial meetings to elect their vice presidents. It is important to note that the position of President of the Women’s Development Committee is now designated as a full-time role, aimed at strengthening the effectiveness of the committees and expanding initiatives for women’s development at the island level.

Both the councils and the Women’s Development Committees will serve a term of five years.

This initiative reflects the continued commitment to strengthening decentralization and enhancing service delivery at the local level, playing a vital role in the governance and administrative framework of the Maldives.