Malawi - November 2024

Freedom of assembly was undermined in Malawi in November, when two anti-government protests were disrupted by unidentified masked men, armed with machetes and clubs. The first of these incidents took place on 13 November, when the men prevented civil society groups from holding a peaceful protest in the capital, Lilongwe - charging the assembled protesters and then preventing them from reassembling. This was alleged to have taken place in the presence of the police, who failed to intervene, but tear gassed the protesters when they tried to confront the men. A similar incident took place in Lilongwe on 25 November. The protests had been organised to voice concerns over the ongoing fuel crisis and voter registration. Gangs of armed youths have historically been used by Malawian political parties to perpetrate political violence against opponents and the November incidents have raised fears of such violence ahead of elections scheduled for September 2025.

Sources: Malawi 24, Baron's, Malawi Law Society, The Media Institute of Southern Africa - Malawi, Africa Confidential, South Africa Institute of International Affairs