Obama hails Malawi’s democracy

United States (US) President Barack Obama has paid tribute to Malawi’s democracy for weathering strong challenges over the years.

Obama, on a three-nation Africa trip, said: “But progress has also rippled across the African continent. From Senegal to Cote d’Ivoire to Malawi, democracy has weathered strong challenges.”

He made the remarks at the University of Cape Town in South Africa on Sunday. His visit is part of a three-nation trip that started in Senegal and which ended yesterday in Tanzania.

In March this year, Obama met leaders of four African countries, including President Joyce Banda. Others were President Macky Sall of Senegal, President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone and Prime Minister Jose Maria Pereira Neves of the Cape Verde.

The purpose of the meeting at the White House was to underscore support for sub-Saharan Africa and for democracy. The leaders discussed a range of priorities, particularly how to deepen partnerships to strengthen democratic institutions and promote economic growth, trade and investment.

He also discussed the situation in Malawi where there was a near constitutional crisis just last year following Mutharika’s death.

Following the death of president Bingu wa Mutharika on April 5 last year, government failed to notify the public in a timely manner, which the president had died.

This raised fears of a possible constitutional crisis in the country.

Obama had a similar meeting in 2011 with African leaders from Benin, Guinea, Niger and Côte d’Ivoire.