Malawi withdraws ambassador-designate to Kuwait just months after nomination — Abdul Karim remains in post

The Malawi government has abruptly withdrawn its nomination of Allison Liwanda as Ambassador-designate to the State of Kuwait, in a move confirmed through an official diplomatic note.

According to a note verbale from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Malawi, dated 31 August 2026 and addressed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait, the Malawi government has formally withdrawn Liwanda’s appointment.

The note references an earlier communication, dated Note No. 02/26, in which Malawi had originally requested agrément — formal diplomatic approval — for Liwanda’s appointment as Ambassador-designate to Kuwait, with residence in Kuwait City.

No reason for the withdrawal was given in the note.

The document confirms that His Excellency Mr Abdul Karim remains the substantive Ambassador of the Republic of Malawi to the State of Kuwait, continuing to serve from his residence in Kuwait City.

The note, numbered 05/2026, was signed off in Lilongwe and formally communicated to Kuwaiti authorities, with the Ministry renewing “the assurances of its highest consideration” to its Kuwaiti counterparts as part of standard diplomatic protocol.

The development comes amid a broader wave of changes within Malawi’s diplomatic corps, with the country having recently reshuffled a number of its foreign envoys.