In London, rival opposition groups of the government, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Adhaalath Party (AP), as well as former deputies of president Abdulla Yameen's cabinet, as well as former defence minister Mohamed Nazim, formed the Maldives United Opposition.

[2] In 2016, the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure originally granted MDP a permit to hold a rally in Malé, but later withdrew it, the minister Mohamed Muizzu saying that it was granted to MDP and not "some group called the united coalition".

[5] Opposition MP Ahmed Mahloof and others were arrested for promoting the rally using a megaphone on a parked pickup truck.

Riot police was blocking Majeedhee Magu and pushing people onto the pavement.

[11][10] On 31 August 2016, hundreds of protesters marched with raincoats in Malé, demanding the resignation of Abdulla Yameen as president of the Maldives.