The plot
On 23 September 2018, Maldivian citizens will go to the polls in only the third multiparty presidential election in the island nation's history. In a country normally portrayed by white beaches, swaying palms and luxury tourist resorts, the upcoming election will focus global attention on a less familiar cast of characters.
These actors, normally kept behind the scenes of a paradise idyll, will take centre stage as five years of political drama approaches a climax. Will President Abdulla Yameen reprise his role as the increasingly authoritarian head of state for another five-year term; or will the beleaguered opposition save the day for the archipelago's ailing democracy?
Here's the who's who of the Maldives presidential election 2018: