The Republic of Malawi has signed the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on the Facilitation of Movement of Persons, a regional legal instrument adopted in 2005 to promote the gradual removal of barriers to the movement of people within the Community. The signing took place on 16 July 2026 on the margins of the 28th Ordinary Meeting of the Ministerial Committee of the Organ (MCO) on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation in Salima, Malawi.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Malawi's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. George Thapatula Chaponda, who is also the current Chairperson of the MCO reaffirmed the Government of Malawi's commitment to deepening regional cooperation and expanding opportunities for the free movement of persons. He added that Malawi's decision to sign the Protocol reflects the country's commitment to advancing SADC's objectives of economic development, social progress, regional integration and unity among Member States.
