Malawian Defence Force - Malawi Army

Malawi Army

The Malawi Rifles was a unit in the Malawi army formed on the country's gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1964. Its first battalion was formed from the 1st Battalion, King's African Rifles. On independence the battalion became 1st Battalion, The Malawi Rifles (King's African Rifles). They were based (and elements still may be based) at Cobbe Barracks, Zomba. On 6 July 1966 Malawi became a Republic and His Excellency The Hon. Dr. H. Kamuzu Banda became the first President of the new Republic. After the swearing in Ceremony his first duty was to present the Battalion with his own Presidential Colour and the new Regimental Colour. It was under the leadership of Brigadier Timothy Lewis, a British expatriate. In 1964, at Malawi's independence, the Malawian Army consisted of one battalion with 2,000 soldiers at Cobbe Barracks in Zomba.

The Malawi army is now made up of two rifle regiments and one parachute regiment. The military is organized under the purview of the Ministry of Defence. State Department IMET training documentation from FY 2003 indicates the United States trained army personnel from the 2nd Battalion, Malawi Rifles, 3rd Battalion, Malawi Rifles (Moyale Barracks), the Parachute Battalion, and the Combat Support Battalion (Mvera).

In 1993, the army played a vital role in dismantling the dictatorship of Kamuzu Banda. After Banda announced muli-party elections, the army intervened by dismantling Banda's paramilitary wing, the Malawi Young Pioneers in one night during an operation called "Bwezani" which means "taking back" or "returning". This even market a vital point in the ideology of the Malawi army that was to follow. The Malawi Army therefore has had no political aspirations themselves, and have allowed the democratic process to occur in Malawi as guided by civilians.

On April 5, 2012 when President Bingu wa Mutharika died, there were rumors of an attempted constitutional coup intended to prevent vice-president Joyce Banda from becoming President as outlined by the Constitution. The military stepped in and vowed to support and uphold the constitution of Malawi. They reportedly stationed security members at Banda's residence during the news of Mutharika's death. This level of professionalism had a direct impact on the smooth transition of power.