By Wezzie Gausi:
The government of Malawi is in talks with Rwanda and other countries to repatriate refugees currently residing in Malawi, citing increased pressure on national resources following the withdrawal of donor support.
A senior official from the Ministry of Homeland Security disclosed that the discussions follow announcements by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme (WFP) that they can no longer fund support for refugees in Malawi.
“With UNHCR and WFP pulling out, we are left with no option. Malawi cannot continue shouldering the burden of hosting refugees without international support,” the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.
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Malawi hosts thousands of refugees and asylum seekers, mainly from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Burundi.
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Many live at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa District, which was originally designed for 10,000 people but now holds more than three times that number.
Commenting on the development, Inua Advocacy Chief Executive Officer Innocent Magambi praised Malawi’s history of hospitality but warned against forced or coerced returns.
“Malawi has shown immense generosity by hosting refugees despite economic hardship. However, forced repatriation to volatile regions such as eastern DRC or politically sensitive countries is not only unlawful but dangerous,” Magambi said.
He urged the government and its international partners to consider alternative, rights-based solutions such as local integration, lifting the encampment policy and targeted support for vulnerable groups.
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“By enabling refugees to become self-reliant, Malawi could reduce its long-term financial burden and preserve its international human rights standing,” he said.
Youth and Society Executive Director Charles Kajoloweka also cautioned the government against a blanket repatriation policy, warning that returning refugees to unsafe environments would violate human rights.
“We understand the government’s constraints, but the solution is not to force people back into danger. Stakeholder dialogue is essential to finding a balanced, humane approach,” Kajoloweka said.
Secretary for Homeland Security Steven Kayuni said he was attending a meeting and did not respond to our questionnaire.
