Malawi Suspends Passport Issuance After Cyber-Attack, President Vows Not to Give in to Hackers’ Demands

Malawi‘s government has made the decision to halt the issuance of passports following a cyber-attack on the immigration service’s computer network, as disclosed by President Lazarus Chakwera to Members of Parliament.

The President characterized the cyber-attack on the immigration department as a severe breach of national security, revealing that the hackers had made ransom demands.

Despite the hackers’ demands, President Chakwera emphasized that the government would not acquiesce to their requests, affirming their commitment to resolving the issue.

President Chakwera plainly stated, “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.”

Malawi has been experiencing a significant demand for passports, especially among young individuals seeking job opportunities abroad.

President Chakwera has given a three-week deadline to the immigration department to implement a temporary solution and resume passport issuance while efforts are made to regain control of the system.

He also mentioned plans to develop a long-term solution incorporating additional security measures to prevent similar cyber-attacks in the future.

News of the cyber-attack comes after weeks of technical glitches that had halted passport issuance in Malawi, sparking frustration among citizens.

No specific details regarding the identity of the cyber attackers or potential data security threats resulting from the breach have been divulged.

Malawians have been seeking answers about the ongoing delays in passport issuance and the implications of the cyber-attack on personal data.

Last year, Malawi faced passport issuance challenges due to a shortage of passport booklets, compounded by a lack of foreign currency.

Concerns over corruption and irregularities surrounding passport issuance contracts have also been raised by frustrated Malawians previously.

Currently, individuals without valid passports or those with expired ones are unable to obtain new travel documents and, consequently, are unable to travel internationally.