Malawi Minister Denies UN Walkout During Netanyahu Speech

Malawi's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. George Chaponda, was not present in the UN General Assembly hall during Benjamin Netanyahu's address, his office stated, contradicting earlier reports and social media claims.

Chaponda's personal assistant confirmed the minister was engaged in bilateral talks with the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) at the time of the speech. Malawi secured $150 million in funding from the GPE to extend education projects through 2029. This clarification emerged after images circulated on social media appearing to show Chaponda seated in the chamber during a mass walkout by dozens of delegations protesting Netanyahu's speech.

The minister's office emphasized the focus on securing development gains for Malawi over making a symbolic stand. Netanyahu's speech itself was marked by a walkout of scores of delegates, with the Israeli prime minister calling those who left moral cowards. He also accused New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of spreading lies and endangering Jewish New Yorkers. Mamdani, in turn, accused Netanyahu of sanitizing genocide.