A state of emergency has been declared in the Maldives

Update . The former president of the Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayum, who ruled the country from 1978 to 2008, has been arrested, Reuters reports citing a spokesman for Gayoom.

Maldivian President Abdullah Yameen declared a 15-day state of emergency in the country on February 5, Reuters reported, citing Justice Minister Azima Shakur.

Yameen made the decision after the Supreme Court overturned the convictions of former President Mohamed Nasheed and eight other opposition leaders convicted of terrorism. The government refused to comply with the decision of the Supreme Court. Shortly thereafter, Yameen announced that, to his knowledge, the Supreme Court was planning to begin impeachment proceedings against him. He explained the introduction of a state of emergency as a "threat to national security."

Azima Shakur said that during the state of emergency, the judges of the country are deprived of immunity. A few hours later, Maldivian security forces broke into the building of the Supreme Court, Reuters reports , citing court spokesman Faisal Adam.

“The Government of the Maldives wants to reassure the people of the country and the international community that it guarantees the safety of all its citizens and foreigners living in the Maldives or visiting our country,” President Abdullah Yameen said in a statement.

Reuters

• Mohamed Nasheed was elected President of the Maldives in 2008; resigned four years later due to a political crisis. In 2015, Nasheed was accused of issuing an illegal arrest order for Maldives Chief Criminal Court Judge Abdullah Mohamed before his resignation. The former president was found guilty of terrorism and sentenced to 13 years in prison. In 2016, Nasheed managed to leave for the UK, where he was granted refugee status.