Malawi has formally joined the Maritime Organisation for Eastern, Southern and Northern Africa (MOESNA) to improve international trade access and lower transport costs. Speaking during a stakeholder workshop in Lilongwe, MOESNA Secretary General Kassim Mpaata warned that land-linked nations like Malawi must increase regional cooperation or risk being structurally sidelined from the global shipping industry, according to the Nyasa Times. Mpaata stated that Malawi's heavy reliance on foreign ports exposes the country to fragile supply chains, adding that joining the maritime bloc is a necessary step toward economic stability. The Nyasa Times reports that the membership is specifically aimed at cutting transport costs and securing better terms in global trade.
Meanwhile, international organisations have initiated new support projects at the overcrowded Dzaleka Refugee Camp, which is currently facing a severe humanitarian crisis following global aid cuts. Welthungerhilfe Malawi has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Dzaleka Water Users Association, providing equipment to strengthen community-led water and hygiene management, Dzaleka.com reports. In a related effort, the Malawi Human Rights Commission and the Department for Refugees hosted a European Union-funded workshop on March 13 to improve conflict resolution and establish clear redress mechanisms for refugees experiencing rights violations, according to Dzaleka.com.