Adduans are proudly independent, with their own dialect, cuisine and culture. The atoll was historically one of the most developed parts of the Maldives. According to sources, Meedhoo island of Addu has some of the earliest settlements in the Maldives.
The biggest influence on Addu s modern history has been the British bases, first established on Gan during WWII as part of the Indian Ocean defences. In 1956, when the British could no longer use Sri Lanka, they developed a Royal Air Force base on Addu as a strategic Cold War outpost.
Abdulla Afif Didi, who was elected president of the United Suvadive Republic (comprising Addu, Fuvahmulah and Huvadhoo) declared independence from the Maldives, but an armed fleet sent South by Prime Minister Ibrahim Nasir quashed the short lived southern rebellion.
In 1976 the British pulled out, leaving an airport, some large industrial buildings, barracks and a lot of unemployed people, trained and skilled, who spoke good English and had experience working for Westerners. With the start of tourism in the late 1970s, many Adduans left to the capital city for employment.
