Malawi’s highest court will announce today whether US pop star Madonna can adopt a second child from the African country.

Malawi’s High Court ruled in April Madonna could not adopt four-year-old Mercy James because she was not a resident of Malawi. The singer appealed.

Supreme Court spokesman Joseph Chigona told Reuters that the announcement would be made at 0700 GMT on Friday (5.00pm AEST).

Malawi’s Government came under fire after Madonna adopted a 13-month-old child, David Banda, in 2006. Critics accused the Government of giving Madonna special treatment by skirting laws that ban non-residents from adopting children. The Government has supported Madonna’s attempt to adopt Mercy, saying she is a worthy mother.

An AIDS epidemic in Malawi has orphaned more than 1 million children and Madonna has set up a charity for children there. In her ruling in April, High Court Judge Esimie Chombo warned against celebrity adoptions, saying they could lead to child trafficking.

Source: Reuters