Washington, Oct. 5 (PTI): US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday said the election outcome in the Maldives reflected the will of the Maldivian people which all parties in the country should respect as he congratulated President-elect Ibrahim Solih on his poll victory.
The phone call by Pompeo to the president-elect gains significance in the wake of uncertainty over transfer of power after the recent successfully held elections and is considered to be sending a signal that the US is fully behind Solih.
Solih, 56, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party's candidate, emerged victorious over incumbent President Abdulla Yameen in the election held on September 23. He will be sworn in on November 17.
The Secretary congratulated the Maldivian people for coming out to vote in overwhelming numbers despite challenges, state department spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a statement.
The Secretary noted that the election reflected the will of the Maldivian people, which all parties in the country should respect, she said.
He said the United States looks forward to President-elect Solih's inauguration in November and expanding US cooperation with Maldives in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific, Nauert said.
