Malawi army commander fired: Maulana replaced by Supuni

President Peter Mutharika has fired General Ignasio Maulana from the Malawi Defence Force and replaced him with Lieutenant Geneal Supuni as the new military chief, Nyasa Times learnt on Saturday.

Mutharika has promoted Supuni  to the rank of General and appointed him the new Commander of the Army.

Former army spokesman Clement Namangale now becomes the deputy commander.

Chief Secretray to government, George Mkondiwa confirmed the sacking of Maulana, saying  Supuni had automatically ascended to the rank of the General.

No reasons were given for the top military shake up.

But General Maulana has since been deployed to the National Food Reserve Agency ‘to manage food security’.

Maulana took over from General Henry Odillo  who was dismissed by President  Mutharika in June 2014.

Supuni served as Malawi’s military attache at Malawi’s Embassy in United Nations before he was appointed deputy commander.

The appointment of the new army commander comes after Nationa Intelligence Bureau is been giving reports to President Mutharika thatsome opposition leaders of plotting to overthrow his government.