Madonna 'ecstatic' over second adoption approval
Veteran star to adopt another Malawian child
Madonna has said she is "ecstatic" after she won her legal appeal to be allowed to adopt a second African child.
A court in Malawi had originally turned down Madonna's application for guardianship of four year-old orphan Chifundo 'Mercy' James over residency issues.
But the appeals court said the star's commitment to helping disadvantaged children had not been considered in the original application.
"In our view, Chifundo James is better taken care of by being adopted by foreign parents who will give her love and affection," said Malawian chief justice Lovemore Munlo, who also praised Madonna's interest in helping Malawian orphans and said the child would have a better life with the star.
"In this global village, a man can have more than one place at which he resides. The matter of residence should be determined at the time of application of the adoption. In this case, Madonna was in Malawi not by chance but by intention."
Madonna's commitment to Malawian orphans meant she could "not be described as a sojourner", he added.
"My family and I look forward to sharing our lives with her," Madonna said in a statement.
She said she was "extremely grateful" to the court for its ruling.
It has been reported by the BBC that Madonna's lawyer Alan Chinula said he was arranging a passport for Mercy and was waiting to hear from Madonna about travel plans. The child's family welcomed the ruling.
"We hope Mercy will be joining Madonna soon," Mercy's uncle Peter Baneti said.
In 2006, Madonna adopted a boy called David from the nation.
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A court in Malawi had originally turned down Madonna's application for guardianship of four year-old orphan Chifundo 'Mercy' James over residency issues.
But the appeals court said the star's commitment to helping disadvantaged children had not been considered in the original application.
"In our view, Chifundo James is better taken care of by being adopted by foreign parents who will give her love and affection," said Malawian chief justice Lovemore Munlo, who also praised Madonna's interest in helping Malawian orphans and said the child would have a better life with the star.
"In this global village, a man can have more than one place at which he resides. The matter of residence should be determined at the time of application of the adoption. In this case, Madonna was in Malawi not by chance but by intention."
Madonna's commitment to Malawian orphans meant she could "not be described as a sojourner", he added.
"My family and I look forward to sharing our lives with her," Madonna said in a statement.
She said she was "extremely grateful" to the court for its ruling.
It has been reported by the BBC that Madonna's lawyer Alan Chinula said he was arranging a passport for Mercy and was waiting to hear from Madonna about travel plans. The child's family welcomed the ruling.
"We hope Mercy will be joining Madonna soon," Mercy's uncle Peter Baneti said.
In 2006, Madonna adopted a boy called David from the nation.
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