Foreign relations of Malawi

Malawi's former President Bakili Muluzi continued the pro-Western foreign policy established by his predecessor, Hastings Banda. It maintains excellent diplomatic relations with principal Western countries. Malawi's close relations with South Africa throughout the apartheid era strained its relations with other African nations. Following the collapse of apartheid in 1994, Malawi developed, and currently maintains, strong diplomatic relations with all African countries.

Politics of Malawi
Constitution
Government
Legislature
Elections
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations
National symbols
flag Malawi portal
Nations with which Malawi has diplomatic relations.

Bilateral donors

Important bilateral donors include Canada, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Iceland, Japan, South Korea, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Republic of China (Taiwan), the United Kingdom, and the United States. Multilateral donors include the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the European Union, the African Development Bank, and the United Nations organizations.

SADC

Malawi assumed the chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in 2001. Muluzi took an active role in SADC on issues such as the global coalition against terrorism and land reform in Zimbabwe.

ACP

Malawi has been a member of the ACP group since Lomé I and is also a party to the Cotonou agreement, the partnership agreement between the European Community/European Union and 77 states from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.

Memberships in international organizations

Malawi is a member of the following international organizations: the Commonwealth of Nations, the United Nations and some of its specialized and related agencies (i.e. UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO), IMF, World Bank, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Berne Convention, Universal Copyright Convention, Organization of African Unity (OAU), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, Lome Convention, African Development Bank (AFDB), Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA), Non-Aligned Movement, G-77, and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Malawi is also a member of the International Criminal Court with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the US-military (as covered under Article 98).

Bilateral Relations
Country Formal Relations Began Notes
 Albania11 July 1985

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 11 July 1985[1]

 Angola 9 November 1993 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 November 1993[2]
 Argentina 11 March 1999 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 11 March 1999[3]
 Armenia20 January 2012

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 January 2012[4]

 Australia1981
 Austria 2 December 1965 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 2 December 1965[6]
 Azerbaijan 21 May 2004 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 May 2004[7]
 Bahrain9 June 1998See Bahrain–Malawi relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 June 1998[8]

 Belarus 13 July 2001 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 13 July 2001[9]
 Bosnia and Herzegovina 18 October 2011 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 October 2011[10]
 Botswana1 July 1967

Both countries are full members of the Southern African Development Community, Commonwealth of Nations and of the Non-Aligned Movement.

 Bulgaria 23 November 1994 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 23 November 1994[11]
 Cambodia 20 July 2011 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 July 2011[12]
 Canada12 February 1974
  • Both countries established diplomatic relations on 12 February 1974[13]
  • Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
 China28 December 2007[14]

Hastings Banda recognized the Republic of China (Taiwan) in 1967. In January 2008, Malawi switched this recognition to the People's Republic of China.

Since 2008 there has been a significant shift by the Malawian government towards accepting investment from China.[15] Potentially this may be part of a wider power struggle between the East and West in Africa.[16]

 Colombia 30 March 1998 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 30 March 1998[17]
 Croatia13 November 1998

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 13 November 1998[18]

 Cuba 10 December 1997 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 December 1997[19]
 Cyprus22 June 2000
 Denmark1964
 Finland 1 May 1986 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 May 1986[21]
 Georgia19 September 2011

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 19 September 2011[22]

 Germany 6 July 1964 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 July 1964[23]
 Ghana 8 July 1964 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 8 July 1964[24]
 Greece
 India1964See India–Malawi relations
 Israel15 July 1964See Israel–Malawi relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 July 1964[26]

 JapanJuly 1964

Both countries established diplomatic relations in July 1964.[27]

 Jordan 23 June 1999 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 23 June 1999[28]
 Kenya 28 September 1965 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 September 1965[29]
 Kosovo 20 July 2016 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 July 2016.[30] Kosovo and Malawi enjoy excellent relationships.
 Latvia10 September 1998

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 September 1998.[31]

 Lithuania18 November 2001

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 November 2001.[32]

 Mauritius 9 February 2001 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 February 2001[33]
 Mexico10 December 1998Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 December 1998[34]
  • Malawi is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.[35]
  • Mexico is accredited to Malawi from its embassy in Pretoria, South Africa.[36]
 Mongolia21 December 2011

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 December 2011[37]

 Montenegro 16 September 2011 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 16 September 2011[38]
 Mozambique1 July 1981See Malawi-Mozambique relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 July 1981[39]

Between 1985 and 1995, Malawi accommodated more than a million refugees from Mozambique. The refugee crisis placed a substantial strain on Malawi's economy but also drew significant inflows of international assistance. The accommodation and eventual repatriation of the Mozambicans is considered a major success by international organizations.

 Namibia 21 March 1990 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 March 1990[40]
 Netherlands 16 December 1965 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 16 December 1965[41]
 Nicaragua 25 September 2022 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 September 2022[42]
 Nigeria 29 November 1969 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 29 November 1969[43]
 North Korea25 June 1982

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 June 1982.[44]

 North Macedonia 27 September 1999 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 September 1999[45]
 Norway 9 March 1965 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 March 1965[46]
 Oman 7 December 2016 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 7 December 2016[47]
 Pakistan14 August 1965

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 14 August 1965. Pakistan and Malawi are both members of the Commonwealth of Nations

 Philippines3 May 2001

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 3 May 2001[48]

Neither country has an embassy in each other's territories. The Philippines's embassy in Pretoria, South Africa, is accredited to Malawi; on the other hand, Malawi's embassy in Tokyo, Japan, is accredited to the Philippines.

As of 25 May 2018, the date of presentation of credentials of Philippine non-resident ambassador Uriel Norman Garibay to President Arthur Peter Mutharika, there are 41 Filipino nationals residing in Malawi, mainly in Blantyre and Lilongwe.[49]

 Poland10 July 1992See Malawi–Poland relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 July 1992[50]

 Romania15 July 1985

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 July 1985.[51]

 Russia 2 November 1993 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 2 November 1993[52]
 Rwanda

In 1996, Malawi received a number of Rwandan and Congolese refugees seeking asylum. The government did not turn away refugees, but it did invoke the principle of "first country of asylum." Under this principle, refugees who requested asylum in another country first, or who had the opportunity to do so would not subsequently be granted asylum in Malawi. There were no reports of the forcible repatriation of refugees.

 Serbia13 February 1998

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 13 February 1998[53]

 Seychelles 22 May 2001 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 May 2001[54]
 Singapore24 August 1998

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 24 August 1998.[55]

 Slovenia 21 July 2011 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 July 2011[56]
 South Africa10 September 1967See Malawi–South Africa relations

South Africa's first formal relationship with an independent African country was established with Malawi, beginning on 10 September 1967[57]

The colonial structures of Malawian labour export to South African mines continued after Malawi achieved independence in 1964. Led by dictator Hastings Banda, Malawi was the only African country to maintain close relations with White-ruled South Africa until the 1994 election of Nelson Mandela. Malawians were viewed as important workers in the South African mines due to their "skills, work discipline and lack of militancy"[58] From 1988 to 1992, around 13,000 Malawian migrant laborers were forcefully repatriated out of South Africa. Officially, this was because 200 Malawians had tested positive for HIV in the previous two years, but many believe that it was due to the need for retrenchment of laborers during a crisis in South Africa's mining industry.[58]

Since South Africa and Malawi had their first democratic elections in 1994, Malawi and South Africa have enhanced relations. In 2008, the two governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding designed to enhance the relationship between the two countries through enhanced security cooperation.[59]

 South Korea9 March 1965

Establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Malawi was on 9 March 1965.[60] In 2011 Bilateral Trade between both nations totaled US$31 million.[61]

 South Sudan 26 September 2011 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 26 September 2011[62]
 Spain27 October 1972[63]See Malawi–Spain relations
 Tanzania16 May 1985[64]

Malawi has a dispute with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi).

 Thailand 1 June 1987 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 June 1987[65]
 Trinidad and Tobago 21 April 1998 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 April 1998[66]
 Turkey4 August 1969Both countries established diplomatic relations on 4 August 1969[67]
  • Embassy of Malawi in Berlin is accredited to Turkey.[68]
  • Turkish Embassy in Lusaka is accredited to Malawi.[68]
  • Trade volume between the two countries was US$21 million in 2019 (Malawi's exports/imports: 16.4/4.67 million USD).[68]
 Turkmenistan 20 February 1998 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 February 1998[69]
 Ukraine 22 December 1998 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 December 1998[70]
 United Kingdom6 July 1964See Malawi–United Kingdom relations

Historical ties make the UK historically one of the more important donors and supporters of Malawi. However, the expulsion of the UK's High Commissioner in April 2011 may change this relationship. Since the expulsion the UK has suspended direct government aid,[71] citing concerns over governance and human rights.

 United States6 July 1964See Malawi–United States relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 July 1964[72]

See also: Cochrane-Dyet 2011 Cable Controversy

The transition from a one-party state to a multi-party democracy significantly strengthened the already cordial U.S. relationship with Malawi. Significant numbers of Malawians study in the United States. The United States has an active Peace Corps program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, and an Agency for International Development (USAID) mission in Malawi.

In July 2011, the United States suspended direct funding. The US government agency responsible, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, suspended aid because it was 'deeply upset' by the deaths of the 19 people during the July protests.[73]

 Venezuela 31 January 2007 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 31 January 2007[74]
 Zambia 15 September 1970 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 September 1970[75]

Malawi and the Commonwealth of Nations

Malawi became a full member of the Commonwealth on independence from the United Kingdom in 1964. Queen Elizabeth II, Head of the Commonwealth, was Queen of Malawi, represented by the Governor-General of Malawi, until the country became a republic in the Commonwealth of Nations in 1966, when the then Prime Minister of Malawi, Hastings Banda, declared himself the first President of Malawi.

See also

References
  1. Daily Report: Eastern Europe. Index, Volume 7. United States. Foreign Broadcast Information Service. p. 7.
  2. "Diplomatic Relations Between Malawi and Angola as of 9 Nov. 1993". United Nations Digital Library. 9 November 1993. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  3. "Declaración Conjunta sobre el Establecimiento de Relaciones Diplomáticas entre la República Argentina y la República de Malawi". Biblioteca Digital de Tratados (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  4. "Bilateral Relations". mfa.am. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  5. "Malawi". Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  6. Africa Research Bulletin. Blackwell. 1965. p. 435.
  7. "The Republic of Malawi". mfa.gov.az. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  8. "BILATERAL RELATIONS". mofa.gov.bh. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  9. "Diplomatic relations between Belarus and Malawi as of 13 July 2001". United Nations Digital Library. 13 July 2001. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  10. "Diplomatic Relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Malawi as of 18 Oct. 2011". United Nations Digital Library. 18 October 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  11. "Diplomatic Relations Between Bulgaria and Malawi as of 23 Nov. 1994". United Nations Digital Library. 23 November 1994. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  12. "Diplomatic Relations between Malawi and Cambodia as of 20 July 2011". United Nations Digital Library. 20 July 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  13. International Perspectives. Canada. Department of External Affairs, Canadian Institute of Strategic Studies. 1974. p. 77.
  14. "China, Malawi establish diplomatic ties".
  15. "China puts its mark on Malawi | Global development". The Guardian. London. 7 May 2011.
  16. Glennie, Jonathan (10 December 2010). "WikiLeaks cables: China's aid to Africa has strings attached". The Guardian.
  17. "Diplomatic Relations Between Colombia and Malawi as of 30 Mar. 1998". United Nations Digital Library. 30 March 1998. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  18. "List of international treaties and international acts concluded between the Republic of Croatia and Republic of Malawi (the)". mvep.gov.hr. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  19. "De Camino al Día de Africa: Relaciones Cuba-Malawi". misiones.cubaminrex.cu (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  20. (in Greek) http://www.olc.gov.cy/olc/olc.nsf/all/E37881E7982D2177C22575D700294A23/$file/List%20of%20Malawi.pdf?openelement Archived 28 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine
  21. "Diplomatic Relations Between Finland and Malawi as of 1 May 1986". United Nations Digital Library. May 1986. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  22. "MALAWI, REPUBLIC OF". mfa.gov.ge. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  23. "Verzeichnis der Vertretungen der Bundesrepublik Deutschland im Ausland sowie der Honorarkonsulinnen und Honorarkonsuln Page 75" (PDF). auswaertiges-amt.de (in German). Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  24. Southern African Political History: A Chronology of Key Political Events from Independence to Mid-1997. Greenwood Publishing Group, 1999. p. 156.
  25. "Greece's Bilateral Relations". mfa.gr. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  26. Daily Report, Foreign Radio Broadcasts, Issues 137-138. United States. Central Intelligence Agency. 1964. p. 14.
  27. "Japan-Malawi Relations (Basic Data)". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  28. "Diplomatic Relations Between Jordan and Malawi as of 23 June 1999". United Nations Digital Library. 23 June 1999. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  29. Southern African Political History: A Chronology of Key Political Events from Independence to Mid-1997. Greenwood Publishing Group, 1999. p. 160.
  30. "Malawi: Govt Establishes Formal Diplomatic Relations With Kosovo". AllAfrica. 24 July 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  31. Lobzova, Liene. "Establishment and renewal of diplomatic relations". mfa.gov.lv. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  32. https://www.urm.lt/default/en/bilateral-malawi Archived 28 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine
  33. "Diplomatic relations between Malawi and Mauritius as of 9 Feb. 2001". United Nations Digital Library. 9 February 2001. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  34. "Diplomatic Relations Between Mexico and Malawi as of 10 Dec. 1998". United Nations Digital Library. 10 December 1998. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  35. Embassy of the Republic of Malawi in the United States (28 April 2018). "Embassy of Malawi in the United States". Malawiembassy-dc.org. Archived from the original on 5 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  36. "Embassy of Mexico in South Africa". Embamex.sre.gob.mx. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  37. "LIST OF COUNTRIES MAINTAINING DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH MONGOLIA" (PDF). mfa.gov.mn. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  38. "Diplomatic Relations between Montenegro and Malawi as of 16 Sept. 2011". United Nations Digital Library. 16 September 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  39. "Diplomatic relations between Malawi and Mozambique as of 1 July 1981". United Nations Digital Library. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  40. Southern African Political History: A Chronology of Key Political Events from Independence to Mid-1997. Greenwood Publishing Group, 1999. p. 302.
  41. Southern African Political History: A Chronology of Key Political Events from Independence to Mid-1997. Greenwood Publishing Group, 1999. p. 161.
  42. "Nicaragua y Malawi establecen relaciones diplomáticas". prensa-latina.cu (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  43. Southern African Political History: A Chronology of Key Political Events from Independence to Mid-1997. Greenwood Publishing Group, 1999. p. 171.
  44. "DPRK Diplomatic Relations" (PDF). ncnk.org. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  45. "Diplomatic Relations Between Malawi and The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as of 27 Sept. 1999". United Nations Digital Library. 27 September 1999. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  46. "Norges opprettelse au diplomatiske forbindelser med fremmede stater" (PDF). regjeringen.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  47. "Diplomatic relations between Oman and Malawi as of 7 Dec. 2016". United Nations Digital Library. 7 December 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  48. "Diplomatic relations between Malawi and Philippines as of 3 May 2001". United Nations Digital Library. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  49. "PH Seeks to Establish Closer Ties with Malawi".
  50. "Malawi". gov.pl. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  51. "Diplomatic Relations of Romania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs". mae.ro. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  52. "Diplomatic Relations Between Russian Federation and Malawi as of 2 Nov. 1993". United Nations Digital Library. 2 November 1993. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  53. "Malawi". mfa.gov.rs. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  54. "Diplomatic relations between Malawi and Seychelles as of 22 May 2001". United Nations Digital Library. 22 May 2001. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  55. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 August 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  56. "Priznanja samostojne Slovenije" (PDF). fotogalerija.dz-rs.si (in Slovenian). Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  57. Southern African Political History: A Chronology of Key Political Events from Independence to Mid-1997. Greenwood Publishing Group. 1999. p. 166.
  58. Aliens and AIDS in Southern Africa: The Malawi-South Africa debate by Wiseman Chijere Chirwa, in African Affairs, 97:53-79 (1998)
  59. Country, Malawi to Enhance Defence Co-Operation by Bathandwa Mbola, BuaNews, 25 February 2008
  60. "Overview". mofa.go.kr. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  61. "Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea-Middle East and Africa". Archived from the original on 4 September 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  62. "Diplomatic Relations between Malawi and South Sudan as of 26 Sept. 2011". United Nations Digital Library. 26 September 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  63. "Relaciones diplomáticas del Estado Español".
  64. Southern African Political History: A Chronology of Key Political Events from Independence to Mid-1997. Greenwood Publishing Group, 1999. p. 188.
  65. "สาธารณรัฐมาลาวี (Malawi)". mfa.go.th (in Thai). Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  66. "Diplomatic Relations Between Trinidad and Tobago and Malawi as of 21 Apr. 1998". United Nations Digital Library. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  67. Summary of World Broadcasts Non-Arab Africa · Issues 3118-3192. British Broadcasting Corporation. Monitoring Service. 1969. p. 4.
  68. "Relations between Turkey and Malawi".
  69. "Diplomatic Relations Between Turkmenistan and Malawi as of 20 Feb. 1998". United Nations Digital Library. 20 February 1998. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  70. "Diplomatic Relations Between Ukraine and Malawi as of 22 Dec. 1998". United Nations Digital Library. 22 December 1998. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  71. "UK cuts aid to Malawi government". BBC. 14 July 2011.
  72. "A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations, by Country, since 1776: Malawi". history.state.gov. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  73. "US suspends aid to Malawi after killings". BBC. 26 July 2011.
  74. "Hoy extendemos un saludo al Gobierno y Pueblo de Malaui al celebrar 14 años del establecimiento de relaciones diplomáticas". Cancillería Venezuela (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  75. Summary of World Broadcasts: Non-Arab Africa - Issues 3420-3497. British Broadcasting Corporation. Monitoring Service. 1970.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.