African Court to Rule on Madonna Custody Case

June 16, 2009

A high court in Malawi, Africa has announced that it will issue a ruling on Friday on whether or not Madonna will be able to legally adopt 4-year-old Chifundo “Mercy” James. A lower court rejected the bid on a technicality- she did not meet Africa’s 18-month residency requirement for parents.

In 2006, authorities in Malawi waived the adoption rule and allowed her and Guy Ritchie, her ex-husband, to adopt David Banda, who is now 3-years-old. This inspired criticism from many child advocacy groups who said that such exceptions and celebrity treatment could ultimately increase the dangers of child trafficking.

A decision is expected to be made around midnight Pacific Time. If the child is not allowed to be adopted by Madonna, she will rest in the custody of the orphanage, which was co-founded by the pop star, or she will be given over to her 15-year-old father who said that he is perfectly capable of caring for the child.

The child’s 18-year-old mother died shortly after childbirth.