Malawi abstains Gaza ceasefire vote, condemned
Malawi Government has come under fire from some civil rights groups in the country for abstaining from a vote at the United Nations (UN) calling on Israel and Hamas to ceasefire in Gaza, Palestine.
The vote on the protection of civilians, especially women and children, and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations in Gaza took place at the UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday.
Malawi is the only southern African country to have abstained. Other African countries that took the same decision are Cape Verde, Togo, Cameroon and South Sudan.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday argued that the decision was in the best interest of Malawi.
The ministry’s spokesperson John Kabaghe said there was nothing wrong with Malawi’s decision to stay away from the vote.
He said: “That decision to abstain was in the best interest of Malawi.”
But rights groups described the position as “not only irresponsible and hypocritical, but a disgrace” since the country is a member of the UN Human Rights Council.
Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation executive director Michael Kaiyatsa said yesterday the decision is shocking and exposes the government’s double standards.
He said: “Malawi’s abstention exposes the hypocrisy of the Tonse Alliance administration because President Lazarus Chakwera has been publicly calling for a ceasefire ever since the war broke out following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 this year.”
Human Rights Defenders Coalition chairperson Gift Trapence said Malawi’s action does not befit a country that sits in the UN human rights body.
“Voting for a civilian ceasefire is protecting the lives of Palestinian children, women and men whose right to life is under threat,” he said.
Youth and Society executive director Charles Kajoloweka shared Trapence’s views, saying Malawi’s position was an immoral abdication of its international human rights obligation, as a member of the UNHRC.
He said: “No reasonable government worth its name would opt for indifference on such a crucial resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire and end of war in Gaza.”
Commenting on how votes are taken, former Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Lot Dzonzi said such a decision is handed to the diplomats after a Cabinet meeting in their home country, through Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He said: “This means the diplomats in New York vote based on advice from Lilongwe.
“In such votes, the diplomats will always seek direction from Capital Hill, which advises them on how to vote. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs then is the best to explain reasons for a decision on a vote.”
Another serving diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity said embassies sometimes advise Capital Hill depending on the politics on the ground.
The development comes after the Government of Israel recently committed a $60 million package to Malawi.
Last month, Malawi also signed a labour export deal with Israel where more than 400 youths have taken up agricultural jobs in that country.
The Israel-Hamas war has, so far, claimed more than 18 000 lives of Palestinians, the majority of them women and children. It has displaced more than 80 percent of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.
