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Reports & Statements
Malawi Refugee Guide
The Malawi Refugee Guide provides an overview of the historical and current circumstances of refugees at Dzaleka Refugee Camp. Designed to inform and educate, the guide also dispels myths and offers insights into life in the camp, covering key topics such as historical context, legal frameworks, living conditions, and the roles of stakeholders. More than a factual resource, the guide also challenges misconceptions, fosters informed dialogue, and serves as a tool for education, advocacy, and action. It empowers readers—whether citizens, policymakers, or allies—to support meaningful reforms that uphold the dignity and rights of refugees, contributing to a more inclusive and compassionate society.
Statement on the Second Anniversary of the Forced Re-Encampment of Refugees in Malawi
On 17 May 2023, thousands of refugees in Malawi were forcibly relocated from urban areas to Dzaleka Camp in an operation that stripped them of dignity, livelihoods, and fundamental rights. Two years later, we remember those affected and call for justice, transparency, and accountability. In this statement, Inua Advocacy calls for independent investigations into human […]
Position Paper on the Revision of the Malawi Refugee Act
This review presents a timely opportunity for Malawi to align its refugee legal framework with its constitutional values, regional obligations, and international commitments. Inua Advocacy is pleased to present this paper, which provides recommendations grounded in a rights-based and development-orientated approach to refugee protection. This approach acknowledges refugees as potential contributors to Malawi’s social and economic advancement.
2024 Annual Report: Defying Oppression, Advancing Justice
2024 was a year of both resistance and recognition for Inua Advocacy. As a civil society organization rooted in the lived experience of displacement, we continued to challenge entrenched systems of injustice while empowering refugees across Malawi. From confronting systemic abuse to restoring hope through legal aid and emergency relief, we remained grounded in our […]
Malawi Defense Force (MDF) deports 8 Ethiopian suspected Traffickers without due process
In February 2025, the Malawi Defense Force (MDF) deported eight Ethiopians who had been arrested during their second raid on Dzaleka Refugee Camp in October 2024. Despite strong evidence suggesting that these individuals were part of a larger human trafficking network, they were held for months at Kamuzu Barracks before being deported. The MDF spokesperson […]
Post-relocation Support and Interventions for refugees in Dzaleka
On May 17th, 2023, the Malawi Government initiated the forced relocation of refugees from cities and towns back to Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa. This exercise was marred by numerous human rights abuses against the refugees, including beatings, rape, extortion, and theft, among other atrocities from which the refugees have yet to recover. The relocation […]
Appeal for AU Intervention Regarding Unresolved Human Rights Violations Against Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Malawi
Inua Advocacy has submitted an appeal to the African Union (AU) Human Rights Commission, specifically addressing the AU Special Rapporteurs on Human Rights Defenders and on Refugees, regarding the unresolved human rights violations against refugees, asylum seekers, and refugee rights advocates in Malawi. Inua Advocacy has been directly targeted, facing harassment, bans, and threats that […]
Combating Human Trafficking at Dzaleka Refugee Camp
The Malawi Defence Force (MDF) conducted another raid at Dzaleka Refugee Camp, three months after a similar operation on 17 July 2024, targeting human trafficking within the camp. While the recent raid resulted in the detention of over 250 individuals, it has also raised concerns due to reports of human rights violations, including mistreatment of […]
Addressing Security and Human Trafficking Challenges at Dzaleka Refugee Camp
The Commissioner for Refugees recently admitted the presence of firearms in Dzaleka Refugee Camp and the rising human trafficking activities that pose a threat to national security. He disclosed severe manpower shortages, with just one security officer and four guards managing a camp of approximately 56,000 refugees and asylum seekers, along with 15 police officers […]
Malawi Government’s insurance program, a lifeline for Refugees
The Government of Malawi has extended parametric insurance coverage to refugees, supported by the African Risk Capacity Group and the KfW Development Bank, resulting in a payout of US$407,668. This initiative addresses the El Niño-induced drought that affecting the whole country including Dzaleka Refugee Camp and the Dowa district. Malawi’s model, the first in Africa […]
Gunfire erupts in Dzaleka Refugee Camp
On the night of July 17th, there was two hours of continuous gunfire at the Dzaleka Refugee Camp. The disturbance was initially believed to be a police raid on Ethiopian-run human trafficking operations, but it was later confirmed as an operation by the Malawi Defense Force (MDF). WhatsApp audio messages from Dzaleka residents indicate that […]
Commemoration Statement on the One-Year Anniversary of the Brutal Refugee Relocation Exercise
On May 17th, we commemorated the one-year anniversary of a brutal refugee relocation exercise enforced by the Malawi Government. This operation forcibly moved 2,296 refugees and asylum seekers, including 765 families, to the overcrowded Dzaleka Camp, which now houses over 56,000 refugees despite a capacity for only 12,000. Documented human rights abuses during this relocation […]