Malawi Moves to Deport Recognised Ethiopian Refugee as Parliament Reviews Refugee Law

July 30, 2026
By Mintesinot Nigussie

Malawian authorities have attempted to deport an Ethiopian refugee whose legal status was formally recognised more than a decade ago, raising fresh questions over refugee protections as the country reviews legislation widely criticised for limiting displaced people's rights. According to Nyasa Times, immigration officials detained Bashaw Adinaw on Wednesday and transported him to Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe for removal from the country. The publication reported that Adinaw was denied access to legal representation while officials processed his deportation.

Neither the Malawi National Police nor the Department of Immigration disclosed the legal basis for the removal when contacted by Nyasa Times, with each referring inquiries to the other. Documents reviewed by the publication indicate that Adinaw was granted refugee status in December 2011 under Malawi's Refugees Act. A letter signed by then Secretary for Home Affairs Simon Madula informed him that the Refugees Committee had approved his application after considering his case.

The deportation attempt comes as Malawi reviews its refugee legislation through a Special Law Commission tasked with overhauling the 1989 Refugees Act, which rights groups argue places greater emphasis on state control than refugee protection. Speaking at a recent validation workshop in Lilongwe, the commission's chairperson, High Court Judge Redson Kapindu, said the existing legal framework fails to adequately safeguard refugees' rights and prevents them from integrating into host communities.

"The existing law places greater emphasis on controlling refugees and asylum seekers rather than safeguarding their rights," Kapindu said. "The current Act does not adequately recognise refugees' rights, which is why, among other things, refugees are not allowed to integrate into host communities." Kapindu also highlighted weaknesses in the appeals process, noting that Section 11 of the current law limits appeals to the responsible cabinet minister, whose decision cannot be reviewed by the courts. Malawi's Minister of Homeland Security, Peter Mukhito, has acknowledged shortcomings in the legislation, saying reforms have become necessary.

Human rights advocates have argued that the legal review should create pathways for refugees to integrate into Malawian society. Innocent Magambi, chief executive of Inua Advocacy, has called for reforms that would support integration and eventually provide routes to citizenship. The review is taking place as Malawi's humanitarian sector faces growing financial pressure following reductions in international donor support, including funding from the United States, affecting the operations of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and local authorities.

Source: FSX Business News