Madonna's Malawi mystery: Pop star declares she is NOT adopting two more children despite government spokesman claiming the singer had appeared before a judge to ask for permission 

  • 58-year-old singer appeared before a High Court judge in Malawi on Wednesday
  • Court visit happened amid tight security before she was driven off in an SUV
  • It is now up to the court to decide whether to grant superstar's adoption order
  • Madonna adopted David Banda in 2008 and a year later adopted Mercy James 

Pop superstar Madonna has declared she is not adopting two more children from Malawi.

The 58-year-old singer released a statement denying adoption rumours, after it was reported that she appeared before a High Court judge in the capital Lilongwe on Wednesday to make an application.

Madonna, who adopted her son David Banda in 2008 and later daughter Mercy James from the south eastern nation, said she was visiting to check up on charity projects.

She told the People: 'I am in Malawi to check on the children's hospital in Blantyre and my other work with Raising Malawi and then heading home. The rumors of an adoption process are untrue.' 

Pop star Madonna has filed for the adoption of two more children from Malawi, it has emerged. She is pictured in Malawi in 2013

Madonna (left) adopted David Banda (centre) in 2008 and a year later adopted Mercy James (right)

According to local reports, she arrived by private jet with her entourage and is said to have block booked the exclusive Kumbali Country Lodge (pictured) before the court appearance

On Wednesday, Madonna appeared before Justice Fiona Mwale amid tight security, accompanied by two unidentified children and several other people, before being driven away in an SUV vehicle.

According to local reports, she arrived by private jet with her entourage and is said to have block booked the exclusive Kumbali Country Lodge before the court appearance. 

She was spotted as she entered at the court, arriving at judges chambers and was later seen carrying a child, which was said to be one of the two she allegedly wanted to adopt.

One of her entourage was said to be carrying another child, according to Nyasa Times, and the singer was driven off in a KIA Sportage SUV.

Madonna's trip to Malawi last year was the first time in nearly two years that she visited the country, where she has at times been embroiled in controversy after her earlier adoptions.

She was stripped of her VIP status by former president Joyce Banda's government in 2013 and accused of being 'uncouth' and wanting eternal gratitude from the impoverished country for adopting the two children.

But Banda was ousted in 2014 elections and the new president, Peter Mutharika, moved to repair relations, saying 'my government has always been grateful for the passion Madonna has for this country'.

Last July, Madonna said she would not revive plans for a $15 million academy for girls in Malawi, which was cancelled amid allegations of mismanagement - leading to her tiff with Banda. 

Madonna's adopted children David Banda (right) and Mercy James (left) stand during the inspection of a 50-bed surgical unit for children that her charity, Raising Malawi in July

Madonna sits among Malawian children during a visit to the Mkoko Primary School in 2014

The pop star in 2006 founded the charity Raising Malawi to address the poverty and hardship endured by this southern African country's orphans and vulnerable children.

In July, Madonna and her family visited the African nation as she checked on the progress of a medical centre she is supporting in the southern city of Blantyre. 

The proud mother posted pictures of her with son Rocco, eldest daughter Lourdes, and David and Mercy as they toured the country.  

In the same month, David's father said he had healed his rift with the superstar.

Yohane Banda said the pop queen was 'happy' again after a bitter custody battle with former husband Guy Ritchie over son Rocco.

The singer will have to wait a week before hearing the decision on her application. She is pictured in Malawi in 2013

Loving mother: Madonna is pictured with adopted son David Banda when he was a baby

Yohane had earlier blasted the singer over the dispute, claiming his son David Banda would be better off living in poverty than with her.

But the farmer later said he and Madonna had settled their differences after she took the 10-year-old to visit his village for the first time since the adoption.

In an exclusive interview at the time, he told MailOnline: 'I only want the best for my child and I was concerned for him when the custody battle with Rocco was happening.

'There was a rift and it has now been healed.'

Madonna took son Rocco, daughter Lourdes and adopted daughter Mercy to David's home village of Lipunga, close to Malawi's border with Zambia to see his family and receive his tribal name.

Yohane said any tension disappeared as soon as he clapped eyes on his son whom he had not seen since he gave him up for adoption at 13 months in 2006 when his mother died.

'I am extremely positive about Madonna. I can do nothing but praise her,' he told MailOnline.

'I am happy. As far as I am concerned, I was told by Madonna that the boy will come back to me once he has been educated.

'Nothing has changed in that respect. David was allowed to come here and explore, he said he would come regularly to the village.

'It is encouraging, and it is what I have known all along, even though everyone else told me he wouldn't come back.' 

On Saturday, Madonna made an unannounced appearance in Washington at a rally protesting against US President Donald Trump a day after his inauguration.

Madonna had campaigned for Hillary Clinton to become America's first woman president, and told Billboard Magazine after the Democrat's loss that women had a 'tribal inability' to accept a female president.

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