The Malawi Police Headquarters has announced its intention to auction shipping containers confiscated from refugees during the 2023 forced relocation, despite ongoing engagements with the Office of the Principal Secretary for Homeland Security to resolve the matter lawfully and transparently. In 2025, several affected refugees sought legal redress, and the courts ruled in their favour. Following these rulings, Inua Advocacy formally engaged the Ministry and submitted a list of claimants in February 2026. Proceeding with an auction before these claims are reviewed undermines due process and risks compounding the harm already suffered by the affected refugees. In this statement, we call for the immediate suspension of any planned auction; a transparent review of all submitted claims; full compliance with court rulings, including compensation where applicable; and restitution for losses incurred. Read the full press statement here.
