Malawi has imposed a moratorium on anti-homosexual laws pending a decision on whether to repeal the legislation, Justice Minister Samuel Tembenu has said.
According to reports, a review of all colonial-area sodomy laws will be launched in consultation with the people of Malawi.
Minister Tembenu following direction from President Peter Mutharika ordered the release of two men charged with having sex “against the order of nature”.
While western sponsored Civil Society activists see the move as a step in the right direction, many Malawians are not happy with the decision and religious leaders have asked the government not to relent to pressure from Western donors by allowing same-sex relationships.
Since 2012, the US government and Gay rights activists have put a lot of money in countries like Malawi supporting gay rights groups.
The arrest of the two men earlier this month was condemned by the US Ambassador to Malawi, leading international human rights Organisations and Malawi Civil society.
Malawi relies heavily on international aid and as such are beholden to the whims of the West.
As in several African countries, homosexuality is widely seen as taboo in Malawi. Both the Catholic Church and Muslim leaders have in the past described it as un-Godly.
The government announced a similar suspension of anti-homosexuality laws in 2012, however this did not prevent the two men being arrested.
