The 2026 World Report by Human Rights Watch has sharply criticized Southern African governments, particularly those of Malawi, Angola, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe, for perpetuating a culture of human rights abuses and impunity. The report details how security forces in these countries have engaged in excessive use of force, arbitrary arrests, and restrictions on individual freedoms, thereby undermining the legal obligations to uphold human rights. Protests across the region have often been met with brutal force, illustrating a troubling trend where dissent is not tolerated. Journalists and activists face targeted attacks, and many vulnerable communities are left unprotected and suffering from systemic injustice. According to Ashwanee Budoo-Scholtz, deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch, these failures create an enabling environment for abuses, pointing to a worrying lack of accountability. The continued human rights violations in Southern Africa represent not only legal failures but also moral ones, where governments are neglecting their obligations to protect their citizens. The implications of this report are significant, pushing for international attention and urging the implicated governments to improve their human rights records or face greater scrutiny and potential consequences from the global community.