We, a consortium of Institutions and Civil Society Organizations dedicated to promoting and protecting human rights, urgently call upon the Government to immediately cease the relocation of refugees and asylum seekers in Malawi. The relocation exercise, which should uphold the rights of vulnerable individuals, has been tainted by acts of lawlessness within the Malawi Police Service (MPS) and certain party cadres, resulting in gross human rights violations. We demand an immediate stop to this state sponsored lawlessness.

On 27 March 2023, the Government of Malawi issued a directive mandating the relocation of all refugees residing outside designated areas back to the camp within 14 days. Since then, our proactive engagement in assessing the human rights implications of this exercise has revealed alarming lawlessness and gross violations. The MPS has resorted to excessive and disproportionate force during arrests of suspected illegal immigrants and refugees, demonstrating outright illegality.

Read the full statement: Joint Statement: Urgent call for protection of refugees’ rights and a halt to state sponsored lawlessness

Photo: Carsten ten Brink