Malawi: Police Look On As Peaceful Protesters Assaulted

Rights group calls for probe into Malawi protest violence ahead of elections

Human Rights Watch on Tuesday demanded that Malawian authorities investigate and prosecute armed men who attacked peaceful election protesters last week while police on scene declined to step in. The international rights organization stressed that immediate action is crucial to send a strong message that human rights violations will not be tolerated ahead of the crucial September general election. HRW’s senior Africa researcher, Idriss Ali Nassa…

Malawi: Police Look On As Peaceful Protesters Assaulted

Johannesburg -- Investigate Violence, Ensure Freedom of Assembly Ahead of September Elections

Malawi: Police Look on as Peaceful Protesters Assaulted

On June 26, 2025, about a dozen weapon-wielding men in Malawi attacked demonstrators peacefully protesting the government’s handling of upcoming national elections.

Who commands the security forces? Malawi’s constitutional dilemma amid anti-Smartmatic protests Malawi 24 | Latest News from Malawi

The recent anti-Smartmatic demonstrations in Malawi have reignited a national debate about the role, conduct, and command of the country’s security forces—particularly the Malawi Police Service (MPS) and the Malawi Defence Force (MDF). Citizens, civil society organisations, and legal scholars alike have expressed concerns over the handling of protestors, citing incidents of excessive force, questionable […] The post Who commands the security for…

Anonymous 'demos' poster stirs panic

Security and political experts have expressed fear that Malawi risks degenerating into anarchy after an unknown group yesterday issued a poster about a manhunt of suspected panga-wielding thugs that disrupted demonstrations in recent months. The poster went viral over the weekend with the anonymous organisers telling the police not to be involved during the door-to-door protest set for Mzuzu this Friday. Reads the message on the flyer: “Tikachok…

YAS challenges Chakwera to publicly guarantee safety of protesters and opposition figures - Malawi Freedom Network

By Burnett Munthali A leading human rights organisation, Youth and Society (YAS), has openly challenged President Lazarus Chakwera to publicly commit to safeguarding the lives and freedoms of Malawians. The group is specifically calling on the President to provide guarantees that citizens, including protest organisers and opposition political leaders, will be protected from violence and intimidation. YAS believes that the current climate in Mala…