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.

Bilateral donors

Important bilateral donors include Canada, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Iceland, Japan, South Korea, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Republic of China, 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 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, IMF, World Bank, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, World Intellectual Property Organization, Berne Convention, Universal Copyright Convention, Organization of African Unity, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, Lome Convention, African Development Bank, Southern African Development Community, the Common Market for East and Southern Africa, Non-Aligned Movement, G-77, and the World Health Organization.
Malawi is also a member of the International Criminal Court with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the US-military.

Bilateral Relations

CountryFormal Relations BeganNotes
June 1985
Both countries established diplomatic relations in June 1985.
19 May 2008
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 19 May 2008.
20 January 2012
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 January 2012.

  • Australia is represented in Malawi by its embassy in Harare.
  • Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Both countries are full members of the Southern African Development Community, Commonwealth of Nations and of the Non-Aligned Movement.
1973
  • Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1973.
  • Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
2008Hastings Banda recognized the Republic of China 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. Potentially this may be part of a wider power struggle between the East and West in Africa.
13 November 1998
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 13 November 1998.
22 June 2000
  • Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 June 2000.
  • Both countries are full members of Commonwealth of Nations.
1964
  • Denmark is represented in Malawi by its embassy in Maputo, Mozambique.
  • Malawi is represented in Denmark by its embassy in London, England, United Kingdom.
    • 19 September 2011Both countries established diplomatic relations on 19 September 2011.

    • Greece is represented in Malawi by its embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe.
    • Malawi is represented in Greece by its embassy in Brussels, Belgium.
    See India–Malawi relations
    July 1964Both countries established diplomatic relations in July 1964.
    20 July 2016Both countries established diplomatic relations in 20 July 2016. Kosovo and Malawi enjoy excellent relationships.
    10 September 1998
    Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 September 1998.
    18 November 2001
    Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 November 2001.
    10 December 1998
    • Malawi is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.
    • Mexico is accredited to Malawi from its embassy in Pretoria, South Africa.
    25 June 1982Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 June 1982.
    21 December 2011
    Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 December 2011.
    See Malawi-Mozambique relations
    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.
    14 August 1965
    Both countries established diplomatic relations on 14 August 1965. Pakistan and Malawi are both members of the Commonwealth of Nations
    03 May 2001
    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.
    15 July 1985
    Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 July 1985.

    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.
    14 November 1998
    Both countries established diplomatic relations on 14 November 1998.
    24 August 1998
    Both countries established diplomatic relations on 24 August 1998.
    See Malawi–South Africa relations
    South Africa's first formal relationship with an independent African country was established with Malawi, beginning in 1967.
    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" 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 the need for retrenchment of laborers during a crisis in South Africa's mining industry.
    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.
    9 March 1965
    Establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Malawi was on 9 March 1965. In 2011 Bilateral Trade between both nations totaled $31 million USD.

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

    • Turkey is represented in Malawi by its embassy in Lusaka, Zambia.
    • Malawi is represented in Turkey by its embassy in Berlin, Germany.
    See Malawi–United Kingdom relationsHistorical ties, especially with Scotland, 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, citing concerns over governance and human rights.
    See Malawi–United States relations
    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 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.

    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 Commonwealth republic in 1966, when the then Prime Minister of Malawi, Hastings Banda, declared himself the first President of Malawi.