Dzaleka (Malawi) : armed robbery and targeted violence in the camp

Dzaleka, January 13, 2026 – On Monday night, the Dzaleka refugee camp was the scene of an armed robbery during which more than 800,000 Malawi kwacha (approximately US$500) and other valuables were stolen. According to local sources, a police officer is believed to be involved in the incident.

The victim is a Congolese refugee from the Lisungwe area, a head of household and owner of a shop selling flour, beans, rice, and other basic necessities.

“Armed bandits broke into his shop and stole more than 800,000 kwacha, bags of rice, three mobile phones, and a television,” reports our source.

The assailants first tied up the family members, and the husband was abducted. When his wife cried for help, claiming to have recognized one of the attackers, she was violently struck on the head with a rifle belonging to one of the men and lost consciousness. She was admitted to the hospital for intensive care.

According to the refugees, the suspect identified by the victims is a police officer, who was quickly arrested for questioning. However, the population fears he will be released without charges. The refugees are demanding justice and guarantees of safety for the camp’s residents.

For the time being, the police are also working to locate the targeted head of the family. This case is not isolated in a camp regularly plagued by crime and where a climate of suspicion hangs over the possible complicity of certain members of the police force.

The Dzaleka camp, which hosts more than 50,000 refugees, including at least 11,000 Burundians, continues to face major security challenges, exacerbated by this latest incident.