For the first time in the history of the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF), two high ranking female officers have been appointed to the Advisory Board of MNDF.
The senior officers appointed to the board are Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Fathimath Thahseena Ibrahim and Lieutenant Colonel Hawwa Sheneen. Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Fathmath Thahseena Ibrahim serves as deputy to the commanding officer for Senahiya Military Hospital, and Lieutenant Colonel Hawwa Sheneen currently is the Chief Executive Officer for Sifainge Co-operative (SIFCO).
Article 14, Subsection A of The Armed Forces Act of the Maldives (Law: 1/2008) states that an Advisory Council must be established within MNDF, to contribute to policy-making in relation to the administrative and operational functions of MNDF, in addition to presenting recommendations to the Minister of Defense and the Chief of Defense Force. Under the law, the Chief of Defense Force at the time serves as chair to the MNDF Advisory Council, which is currently Major General Abdulla Shamaal.
Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Fathimath Thahseena Ibrahim and Lieutenant Colonel Hawwa Sheneen are also among the first three women who had been promoted to this rank in the history of MNDF earlier this year.
