Politics

Malawi ends visa requirement for China, US, UK, others

Published

11 months ago

February 10, 2024

In an effort to improve its tourism sector, which is one of Malawi’s main sources of foreign earnings, the government has waived the need for a visa for visitors from a number of nations, including China, the United States, and other countries.

This comes after a portion of the nation’s Immigration Act was changed to facilitate foreign tourists’ admittance into the country.

Ken Zikhale Ng’oma, the minister of homeland security for Malawi, signed the amendment to the Act on Wednesday, which listed the 47 nations on the planet free from Malawian visa requirements. Ghana and the Gambia are two of the exempted African nations, while Germany, France, and Russia are all exempted nations outside of Africa.

Furthermore, citizens of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are also exempt from the need for a visa, with the exception of those nations that require one for Malawians.

The change further exempts holders of Laissez-Passers from any of the following: United Nations, African Union, African Development Bank, SADC, Comesa, all diplomats, and government officials travelling on official business.

The gazetted amendment states that the six- and twelve-month validity periods of multiple entry visas in Malawi must be reciprocated with the corresponding country’s multiple entry visa validity.

The country’s business community, in the meantime, has applauded the decision, stating that “it will make Malawi an attractive tourism destination while boosting foreign currency flows in the long term.”

In implementing the MW (Malawi) 2063 Agenda, which aims to make the country self-reliant with more exports than imports, Minister of Tourism Vera Kamtukule told the local media that the amendment to the Immigration Act augers well with the country’s three priority areas, namely agriculture, tourism, and mining (ATM).

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Politics

Mozambique’s top court affirms governing party’s victory in recent election

Published

2 days ago

December 26, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

The highest court in Mozambique affirmed Monday that the incumbent Frelimo party won the October election, sparking widespread demonstrations from opposition parties who claim the vote was manipulated.

Fears of fresh bloodshed have been raised in the nation already shaken by weeks of fatal protests after Mozambique’s top electoral court mostly confirmed the results of the country’s contentious October elections, reinforcing the Frelimo party’s decades-long hold on power.

The final decision on the election process rests with the Constitutional Council. Mozambique, a nation of over 35 million people in Southern Africa that Frelimo has ruled since 1975, is expected to see more protests in response to its judgement.

Mozambique operates a framework of a semi-presidential representative democratic republic in a multi-party system. The president of Mozambique serves as both the head of state and the head of government.

The government exercises executive power. The administration and the Assembly of the Republic have the authority to enact laws.

Politics

Alliance of Sahel States opposes ECOWAS disengagement schedule

Published

2 days ago

December 26, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) withdrawal timeline has been rejected by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which is made up of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

The AES claims that the ECOWAS is attempting to destabilise their newly formed organisation.

During a meeting last week in Abuja, Nigeria, the regional organisation announced a six-month withdrawal period to give the three nations time to change their minds after their official departure date at the end of January 2025.

However, this decision is “nothing more than yet another attempt by the French and its auxiliaries to continue planning and carrying out destabilising actions against the AES,” according to the heads of state of the AES.

“This unilateral decision is not binding on the ESA countries,” the statement continues. Before the conference, they stated that their choice to leave the organisation was “irreversible.”

According to the president of the Ecowas Commission, this will be a “transition period” that ends on “July 29, 2025” to “keep the doors of Ecowas open.”

The three nations accused the bloc of neglecting to assist them in resolving their domestic security challenges and of imposing “inhumane and irresponsible” sanctions related to the coup.

The three nations that were involved in the coup have mostly rejected ECOWAS’ attempts to undo their withdrawal. They are creating their alliance and have begun thinking about how to issue travel passports independently of ECOWAS.

It is anticipated that they will finish giving their one-year notice of departure in January.

Visa-free travel to other ECOWAS members is a significant perk of membership, and it is unclear how this would alter after the three nations exit the group.