“Cyberattack Disrupts Malawi’s Immigration Service, Halts Passport Issuance”

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"Cyberattack Disrupts Malawi's Immigration Service, Halts Passport Issuance"

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Malawi Suspends Passport Issuance After Cyber-Attack

Malawi’s government has halted the issuance of passports following a cyber-attack on the immigration service’s computer network.

President Lazarus Chakwera informed MPs that the attack on the department was a “serious national security breach” and disclosed that the hackers were demanding a ransom. However, he stated that the government would not yield to their demands and was working to resolve the issue.

“We are not in the business of appeasing criminals with public money, nor are we in the business of negotiating with those who attack our country,” he declared on Wednesday.

There is high demand for passports in Malawi, with many young people seeking job opportunities abroad. Mr. Chakwera directed the immigration department to provide a temporary solution within three weeks to resume passport issuance while efforts to regain control of the system are ongoing. He also mentioned plans to develop a long-term solution with additional security measures.

Officials had attributed the recent two-week pause in passport issuance to “a technical glitch” before the president’s announcement. This is not the first time passport issuance has been suspended in recent years.

Last year, the government halted new passport issuance due to a shortage of passport booklets and foreign currency. Issues have persisted since 2021 when a passport contract with a service provider was terminated over irregularities.

The current suspension means that individuals without a passport or with an expired one cannot acquire a new one and are unable to travel.