31/05/2026
STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE AFRICAN UNION FOR PERSONS WITH ALBINISM
In Response to the Murder of Laston Chipiliro, Lilongwe District
26 May 2026
We, the African Union for Persons with Albinism, express our profound sorrow and outrage at the brutal murder of Laston Chipiliro, a person with albinism from Chilembwe Village, Lilongwe District, who went missing on 9 March 2026 and was found dead after a month — his body dismembered, all limbs removed for illegal sale.
While we acknowledge the arrest of suspect M***a Masano by the Malawi Police Service on 24 May 2026, and commend the MPS for this development, we wish to be unequivocal: an arrest is not a breakthrough. A breakthrough will be the permanent end of these attacks on persons with albinism across our continent.
This case is particularly disturbing in that Chipiliro was allegedly betrayed by members of his own family — his uncles Wyson and Sankhani — who exploited his trust before taking his life. This pattern of intimate betrayal speaks to the depth of the crisis and the urgent need for community-level intervention, not law enforcement response alone.
We further note that this attack does not stand in isolation. Just last week, a similar case was recorded in Madagascar. These are not random incidents. They are a pattern — and the pattern demands a continental response.
We therefore call on the Government of Malawi to:
• Fully finance and actively implement the National Action Plan on Albinism. Malawi was among the pioneering nations in developing this Plan as a direct translation of the African Union’s continental framework to end attacks on persons with albinism. The development of such plans must not be treated as the destination — it is the starting point. We want to see resources committed and results delivered.
• Pursue and apprehend all remaining suspects, including Wyson and Sankhani, who are currently at large. Justice for Laston Chipiliro is not complete until all those responsible are brought before the courts.
• Ensure the Head of State personally and publicly condemns these attacks in the strongest possible terms. When Malawians were killed on allegations of stealing private parts, the President spoke with moral clarity. We need that same authority and urgency directed at the systematic targeting of persons with albinism. Silence from the highest office is a signal the country cannot afford to send.
• Reinstate and scale up public awareness campaigns targeting the beliefs and demand chains that drive these attacks. Such campaigns existed before. They must return — with greater reach, greater resources, and greater urgency — in direct response to this resurgence.
• Take full accountability for the protection of persons with albinism on Malawian soil. These are not accidents. They are failures of protection. The Government of Malawi must own that responsibility and act accordingly.
• Publicize the reports of all government-commissioned inquiries and investigations into attacks on persons with albinism. The Government of Malawi has invested in a number of studies and inquiries since the onset of these attacks, yet their findings have never been made public. Stakeholders cannot take meaningful action on evidence that remains hidden. Of particular urgency is the EU-funded investigation, which engaged an external forensic expert to examine the markets and syndicates involved in the trade of body parts of persons with albinism. Equally critical is the study commissioned by the Ministry of Gender and Social Welfare through the Department of Disability and Federal Affairs, which similarly examined these markets. Both sets of findings must be released without further delay. Transparency is not optional — it is a prerequisite for an effective response.
• Appoint a dedicated desk officer in the Office of the President and Cabinet to coordinate the National Action Plan on Albinism. The National Action Plan currently lacks the institutional coordination it requires. There must be a designated officer at the highest level of government responsible for driving implementation, tracking progress, and ensuring accountability across all relevant ministries and agencies. Furthermore, specialized desk officers and dedicated units should be established within relevant institutions to increase the visibility of this issue and embed it within the structures of the state.
We further call on the African Union and the international community to:
• Appoint a dedicated desk officer at the African Union level to coordinate continental efforts under the AU Plan of Action. The African Union’s Plan of Action to end attacks on persons with albinism cannot materialize without a responsible officer to coordinate individual country efforts, monitor implementation, and track the effectiveness of the regional response. Without this coordination architecture, country plans remain isolated and unenforced. We call on the African Union to immediately designate a desk officer to fulfil this function.
• Revise and strengthen funding strategies in light of the persistent scale of the crisis. To international donors and funding institutions who have supported efforts to address attacks on persons with albinism: the problem persists. Current funding frameworks must be critically reviewed in light of continued attacks. We call on all partners to reassess the adequacy, targeting, and conditionality of their support, and to align their investments with the urgency and scale of what continues to unfold on the ground.
We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Laston Chipiliro. His life had dignity and worth, and his death must not be in vain.
To all persons with albinism across Africa — you are seen, you are valued, and we will not rest until you are safe.
Issued by:
Overstone Frank Mkwapatira Kondowe
Chairperson, African Union for Persons with Albinism (AUPA)
26 May 2026
