Maumoon Abdul Gayoom

President of the Maldives from 1978 to 2008

Maumoon Abdul Gayoom ( gah-YOOM; born Abdulla Maumoon Khairi; 29 December 1937) is a Maldivian politician, statesman and diplomat who served as the 3rd president of the Maldives from 1978 to 2008. He previously served as the Minister of Transport from 1977 to 1978, and as the Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations from 1976 to 1977. Gayoom is the longest-serving president in Maldivian history.

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