Parents charged in case of missing albino boy

The mother and stepfather of a missing albino boy were charged with kidnapping and ‘intent to murder’ by Malawi police on Wednesday, along with three other relatives. Twelve-year-old James Kachingwe disappeared 10 days ago after he failed to return to his home in the south-eastern Phalombe district, following the country's independence day celebrations, says a News24 report. Police spokesperson James Kadadzera said other suspects arrested include an aunt and two uncles. ‘Since we have not established whether the boy is alive or dead, we have charged them with conspiracy, kidnapping and abducting with intent to murder,’ he said. Kadadzera said police are working hard ‘to end this barbaric act of terrorising people with albinism in Malawi’. Malawi, one of the world's poorest and most aid-dependent countries, has experienced a spike in violent attacks on people with albinism over the past four years.

– News24