Inua Advocacy, an independent civil society organization that advocates for refugee rights in Malawi and beyond has condemned what it calls the ‘gross misrepresentation’ of facts on refugees’ status by the Malawi delegation at the 77th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Arusha, in Tanzania.
According to a statement by Inua Advocacy chief executive officer Innocent Magambi, the government presentations whitewashed the dire situation faced by refugees and asylum seekers in the country.
Malawi principal state advocate Duncan Zikagwa told the session that the country is committed towards the protection of refugees and asylum seekers at their designated places.
“The Government has always made appropriate provisions for a safe stay of all refugees and asylum seekers and this guiding principle has been religiously observed in the recent relocation exercise. The process duly followed the rule of law,” he said
However, Magambi said the statement presented a picture of the refugee situation in Malawi that does not align with the ground realities.
“Contrary to the claims made by the Malawi Delegation, the refugee relocation exercise has been marred by systematic violations, including the rape of women, loss of property, unlawful detention of children and women, forced and unlawful deportations, extortions, xenophobic narratives by authorities, corruption, and robberies targeting refugees and asylum seekers.
“The Malawi Delegation also failed to address the overcrowding of the Dzaleka Refugee Camp, which currently accommodates 52,272 refugees, far beyond its initial capacity of 12,000when established in 1994. The refugee situation in Malawi demands urgent attention, and the misrepresentation of facts by the Malawi Delegation undermines the efforts of organizations and advocates working tirelessly to protect the rights and dignity of refugees,” he said
He called on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and on all people of goodwill to recognize the severity of the situation, to conduct an independent investigation, and to hold those responsible for human rights violations against refugees and asylum seekers in Malawi accountable.
