Aircraft Carrying Malawi's Vice President Goes Missing

An aircraft carrying Malawi's Vice President Saulos Chilima has gone missing. The Malawi Defense Force aircraft, which was carrying Chilima and nine others, went off the radar shortly after taking off from the capital, Lilongwe, around 9:00 AM local time on June 10, 2024. All attempts to re-establish contact with the plane have been unsuccessful so far.

In response, President Lazarus Chakwera has mobilized both regional and national forces to initiate a comprehensive search and rescue operation. The urgency of the situation is heightened by the fact that Chilima was accompanied by nine other individuals on the flight. Among the passengers, there are reports indicating that former First Lady Callista Mutharika was also on board, adding to the gravity of the situation.

Chilima, who had previously been stripped of his powers and faced charges of corruption before being cleared last month, was scheduled to attend the Korea-Africa Summit in Seoul. His delegation to this important summit underscores the significance of his role in Malawi's international relations and the broader implications of his potential loss.

Efforts to locate the missing aircraft are ongoing, with the government and military employing all available resources to conduct the search. This incident has also prompted demands from the public and political figures for greater transparency and frequent updates on the progress of the search and rescue mission. The situation remains fluid, with updates expected as the search efforts continue.