President Lazarus Chakwera announced the suspension of passport issuance in Malawi following a cyber-attack on the immigration service’s computer system.
The president described the incident as a “serious national security breach” and disclosed that the hackers had demanded a ransom.
Despite the demand, Chakwera stated that the government would not yield to the hackers’ demands and was actively working to address 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 affirmed.
The halt in passport issuance, which has been ongoing for two weeks due to what officials initially described as “a technical glitch,” has left many Malawians frustrated.
Chakwera indicated that the immigration department had been given a three-week deadline to implement a temporary solution and resume passport issuance while efforts to regain control of the system continue.
Plans for long-term solutions, including enhanced security measures, are also in progress.
Although the president acknowledged the cyber-attack, he did not disclose specifics about the hackers or potential implications for personal data security.
The situation has intensified concerns among Malawians, who have been seeking clarity on the persistent delays in passport issuance.
This isn’t the first time Malawi has faced challenges with passport issuance.
Last year, the government paused issuing new passports due to a shortage of passport booklets and foreign currency.
Additionally, issues arose in 2021 when a passport contract was terminated due to irregularities.
Presently, individuals without passports or those with expired passports are unable to obtain new ones, effectively limiting their ability to travel.
Source-BBC
