PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Hillary Clinton to visit Malawi next Sunday
Blantyre, Malawi (PANA) - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will visit Malawi next Sunday, PANA has learnt from top Malawi government officials.
"Mrs. Clinton will be in Malawi next Sunday," said the official. "This is a sign of the trust the Obama administration has in Malawi under President Joyce Banda."
Banda's predecessor, the late President Bingu wa Mutharika, had a stormy relationship with the West.
While a top British envoy was expelled from Malawi in April 2011 for describing Mutharika as "increasingly becoming autocratic and intolerant of criticism", Washington suspended a US$350.7m energy deal following the slaying of 20 unarmed protesters during last year's unprecedented anti-government demonstrations.
But following her ascendancy to power after the sudden death from cardiac arrest of the 78-year-old economist-turned-politician Mutharika on 5 April, President Banda went all-out to mend the diplomatic fences.
Her charm offensive produced immediate results, with London restoring diplomatic relations with Malawi and Washington unfreezing the energy booty.
Clinton's visit to Malawi will be the second high-profile visit from any US administration, following former Vice President Dan Quayle's visit in 1991.
PANA learnt Clinton's visit will also include stops Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire.
-0- PANA RT/SEG 29July2012
"Mrs. Clinton will be in Malawi next Sunday," said the official. "This is a sign of the trust the Obama administration has in Malawi under President Joyce Banda."
Banda's predecessor, the late President Bingu wa Mutharika, had a stormy relationship with the West.
While a top British envoy was expelled from Malawi in April 2011 for describing Mutharika as "increasingly becoming autocratic and intolerant of criticism", Washington suspended a US$350.7m energy deal following the slaying of 20 unarmed protesters during last year's unprecedented anti-government demonstrations.
But following her ascendancy to power after the sudden death from cardiac arrest of the 78-year-old economist-turned-politician Mutharika on 5 April, President Banda went all-out to mend the diplomatic fences.
Her charm offensive produced immediate results, with London restoring diplomatic relations with Malawi and Washington unfreezing the energy booty.
Clinton's visit to Malawi will be the second high-profile visit from any US administration, following former Vice President Dan Quayle's visit in 1991.
PANA learnt Clinton's visit will also include stops Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire.
-0- PANA RT/SEG 29July2012
