Africa-Press – Malawi. President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera is earning praise from Malawians at home and abroad, including prominent social media influencer Onjezani Kenani, after Malawi successfully avoided being included in the latest United States travel ban.
The diplomatic victory comes after the US government issued Malawi a stern 60-day warning to address the alleged issuance of passports to individuals wanted by American authorities. Concerns had been raised that failure to act could result in travel restrictions for Malawian citizens.
However, when President Donald Trump announced the new travel ban on Wednesday, Malawi was notably absent from the list of 12 banned countries and 7 others facing heightened restrictions. The move is being widely interpreted as a sign that the Chakwera administration took swift and effective action behind the scenes to meet US expectations.
Kenani, a vocal commentator and influential voice on social media, lauded President Chakwera’s leadership, saying the country’s escape from sanctions reflects sound governance and responsible international diplomacy.
“This is what leadership looks like,” Kenani wrote in a widely shared post. “Where other nations were blacklisted, Malawi acted and protected its people.”
The updated travel ban, which takes effect Monday at 12:01 a.m., targets citizens from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Visitors from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela will also face heightened restrictions.
The US government’s previous travel ban in 2017 caused chaos at airports worldwide due to its abrupt rollout. This time, the advance notice gave countries like Malawi an opportunity to address issues diplomatically—and succeed.
As congratulatory messages pour in, many are crediting President Chakwera for guiding the nation away from potential international fallout and safeguarding Malawi’s global image.
For now, Malawi remains off the banned list—a small but significant triumph in an increasingly complex global arena.
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