The Malawian government is concerned about the interference of the US ambassador, David Young, in internal affairs. It points to recent pronouncements on the Lilongwe executive's position on the compulsory removal of refugees and asylum seekers to the Dzaleka camp as interference in matters that are for the government to decide.

David Young reportedly said publicly that he condemned the Malawian government's decision to use force to remove refugees from Rwanda and Burundi to the Dzeleka camp.

He asked the Lilongwe executive how they would feel if neighboring countries, like South Africa, repatriated their citizens who live there.

He also said that subjecting children to detention, apart from being a violation of human rights, was not a threat to border security, and called on the government to reconsider its position.

These pronouncements have been interpreted as interference, and the Malawian government, through the chief secretary of the ministry of internal security, Oliver Kumbambe, has said that this operation is justified by the fact that there is evidence that some refugees are involved in illegal activities.

Kumbambe pointed to cross-border crimes, transnational crimes, trafficking in human beings and drugs.

He stressed that the Malawi government has always protected refugees and asylum seekers, but only those who are living in the place indicated by the executive, which is the Dzaleka camp.

The chief secretary of the Ministry of Internal Security, explained that an increasing number of asylum seekers are entering Malawi without documentation just to engage in illicit business.

Oliver Kumbambe, has assured that Malawi will not stand by and watch the rise of cross-border crime in the region, and promises to continue to act so as not to be preferred by criminals. (RM)