The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) staged a protest in Malé on Friday night after nearly two months of preparation, but the event drew far fewer participants than the party had initially claimed.

The opposition had asserted it would mobilise 10,000 supporters for the demonstration, bringing in participants from the islands with promises of payment, food, and accommodation. However, police estimates put attendance at around 2,000, with many participants expressing frustration over the lack of food and lodging upon arrival in the capital.

Tensions rose when police stopped protesters from moving beyond the agreed route. According to eyewitnesses, MDP leaders withdrew from the scene, leaving supporters to confront police barricades.

Within two hours of the protest’s commencement, the crowd had dwindled to roughly 500 people. The opposition had sought to boost its numbers through island mobilisation, but the turnout and subsequent dispersal fell short of expectations.

The demonstration comes at a time of heightened political confrontation, with the MDP stepping up its criticism of the Government.