Malawian President Peter Mutharika has removed Vice President Saulos Chilima from office in a cabinet reshuffle.
This comes ahead of presidential election next year in which Chilima is seen as the biggest threat to Mutharika.
Chilima had quit the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in July in protest against alleged corruption in the southern African nation, which has been rocked by graft scandals over the last decade.
The issue has resurfaced in the build-up to the elections next year, when the country is also due to elect a new parliament and ward councilors.