A violent attack on peaceful demonstrators in Malawi’s capital Lilongwe has intensified scrutiny over the integrity of the country’s upcoming general elections scheduled for September, Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned on Wednesday.
On 26 June, about a dozen masked men armed with sticks, sjamboks and knives assaulted protesters gathered by Citizens for Credible Elections, a local non-governmental organisation calling for an independent audit of the voters’ roll and the resignation of top electoral officials.
Eyewitnesses, including journalists and rights activists, say police officers stationed nearby failed to intervene or arrest the assailants.
Several demonstrators sustained injuries and property was damaged, including vehicles that were torched.
Civil society organisations and opposition leaders accuse the attackers of belonging to a youth militia tied to the ruling Malawi Congress Party, alleging a deliberate campaign to intimidate dissent ahead of the polls.
HRW condemned the violence, saying the authorities’ inaction undermines public trust in the electoral process.
“Malawian authorities need to investigate this brutal attack on peaceful demonstrators and ensure that those responsible are appropriately punished,” said Idriss Ali Nassah, senior Africa researcher at the organisation.
“For Malawians to have confidence in the fairness of the upcoming election, they need to be sure the police will respond promptly and impartially to threats or acts violence, no matter who is responsible.”
The attack followed a similar incident in November 2024 where masked men disrupted an opposition-led demonstration demanding electoral reforms.
In both cases, witnesses reported police complicity by omission.
Organisers of the recent protest, including Sylvester Namiwa from the Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives, said law enforcement stood by as he was dragged toward an SUV in an attempted abduction.
Teargas dispersed the attackers before they stole sound equipment and set vehicles on fire.
Rights advocates have cited the Malawi Electoral Commission’s refusal to grant civic groups access to voters’ rolls as further evidence of opacity.
JN/APA