Why is Malawi described as a landlocked country?

Malawi is described as a landlocked country because it is an independent sovereign state that lacks direct access to an ocean or a sea that is not landlocked.12

While the country features the extensive Lake Malawi—which accounts for more than one-fifth of its total area—this body of water is an inland lake rather than an ocean or open sea. Consequently, Malawi is entirely surrounded by land, sharing borders with Tanzania to the north, Mozambique to the east and south, and Zambia to the west. Because it has no coastline, the nation must rely on road and rail infrastructure through neighboring countries to reach international ports, such as Beira and Nacala in Mozambique, for maritime trade.2345