Tanzania - Malawi Border Dispute Raises Tensions

Diagram of the disputed Malawi-Tanzania border. Tanzanian Affairs

Tanzania Raises Stakes In Border Spat With Malawi -- Voice of America

NAIROBI — Tanzania said on Thursday its armed forces were ready to protect the country against any foreign threat to its territory, raising the stakes in an escalating border dispute with Malawi.

Tanzania is embroiled in a territorial wrangle with Malawi over the ownership of Lake Nyasa, which is known as Lake Malawi in the neighboring country.

Malawi, which sits to the west of Africa's third-largest lake, claims the entire northern half of the lake while Tanzania, to the east, says it owns half of the northern area. The southern half is shared between Malawi and Mozambique.

Read more ....

More News On The Tanzania - Malawi Border Dispute

Malawi rules out interim deal over lake dispute with Tanzania -- Reuters
Malawi: Resolve Lake Malawi Wrangle By September 30 - Joyce Banda Tells Mediation Team -- allAfrica.com
Malawi owns 'Lake Nyasa', Tanzania claims unfounded – Former ICJ head judge -- NYASA Times (Malawi)
Tanzania not bulging: Claims Half of Lake Malawi belongs to It -- Marawi Post

Malawi's President 'Very Critical' After Heart Attack

Malawi President In Critical Condition After Suffering Heart Attack -- National Post/Reuters

LILONGWE — Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika was “very critical” on Thursday after a heart attack and was being flown to South Africa for treatment, a minister said, raising fears of a political crisis in the impoverished southern African nation.

A Reuters reporter in Lilongwe witnessed chaotic scenes as the 78-year-old leader’s wife, Calista, and senior cabinet ministers left the capital’s Kamuzu Central Hospital, where Mutharika was admitted on Thursday morning after collapsing.

Read more ....

More News On Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika

Malawi President Suffers Heart Attack -- Wall Street Journal
Malawi President Hospitalized -- Voice of America
Malawi's president Bingu wa Mutharika has heart attack -- The Guardian
Malawi president unconscious after heart attack -- AFP
Officials: Malawi's president hospitalized -- AP
Malawi's President Mutharika treated for cardiac arrest -- BBC
Malawi's President Bingu wa Mutharika 'very critical' after heart attack -- Global Post
Profile: Bingu wa Mutharika -- BBC

Malawi: Another Failed African State

When Good Presidents Go Bad: The Lessons of Malawi -- Kristin Palitza, Time

Malawi's president Bingu wa Mutharika's campaigns against poverty and corruption once made him the darling of the international donor community, and two years ago won him reelection with 65% of the vote. Today, the tides have turned. Today, in the eyes of many of his own people, Mutharika has become an autocratic ruler who lost their trust.

Last month, thousands of Malawians marched to stop human rights abuses and corruption, and to protest increasing poverty, in the first anti-government demonstrations since the landlocked southern African country the size of Pennsylvania became a democracy in 1994. The authorities responded with a violent crackdown, in which 19 people were killed and 275 arrested. Since then, civil society leaders have been harassed, the president having warned them on state television, "I'll go after you! Even if you hide in holes I'll smoke you out!" Malawians vowed to take to the streets again on August 17 but postponed the demonstrations after a court injunction was issued against them.

Read more ....

My Comment: Malawi is another African case of good intentions and popular support ending with an authoritarian government, corruption, the failure of human rights, and widespread suffering.

Unrest In Malawi -- News Roundup July 25, 2011

Malawi's Bloody Crackdown -- Mail And Guardian

Malawi journalists were beaten by police in churches and hospitals in Lilongwe, and were blamed for the demonstrations that swept the country last week.

The country's radio stations were also shut down in the "national interest".

Eighteen people lost their lives last week, after riot police unleashed brutal violence on Malawians protesting against the increasing authoritarianism of President Bingu wa Mutharika. Protestors also cited a lack of foreign currency, fuel shortages, poor governance, lack of respect for the rule of law and frequent power failures.

Meanwhile, Mutharika accused the protesters of being "led by Satan", in an address to the nation.

Read more ....

More News On The Unrest In Malawi

Malawi Opposition, Civil Groups Threaten More Protests on Fuel, Currency -- Bloomberg
Struggling economy behind Malawians’ rage -- Globe And Mail
Malawians rise against Bingu, 18 die -- Africa News
Malawi president threatens protesters -- Financial Times
Malawi threatens to 'smoke out' protesters -- The Independent
Malawi president blames opposition for deaths -- Al Jazeera
Malawi activists 'in hiding after Mutharika threat' -- BBC
Key Malawi protest leaders in hiding: activist -- AFP
Malawi army chief axed -- News24
Malawi riots a warning to government: analysts -- AFP
ANALYSIS-Mutharika propelling Malawi to uncertain future -- Reuters

Unrest In Malawi Spreading

18 Dead As Malawi Protests Continue Into Second Day -- Voice of America

At least 18 people have died in violent anti-government protests across Malawi Wednesday and Thursday with unconfirmed reports of further casualties. President Bingu wa Mutharika said he is willing to speak to civil society groups and opposition parties about their concerns.

In an address to Malawians broadcast on national radio Thursday, Mutharika condemned the protests, but appealed for calm and said it is time to take part in dialogue with his opponents and find solutions. The president was reacting to countrywide protests that erupted into violence in some areas.

Read more ....

More News On The Unrest In Malawi

Malawi protesters killed during anti-regime riots -- The Guardian
Malawi army deployed over anti-Mutharika protests -- BBC
12 dead, 45 injured in Malawi protests -- CNN
10 dead in Malawi anti-government demonstrations -- AP
Despite threats, Malawi protesters rally against high prices, corruption -- Christian Science Monitor
US condemns use of force in Malawi -- AFP
Malawi erupts in anti-government protests -- AFP
Malawi riots spread as president blames Britain, IMF for economic woes -- Christian Science Monitor
Explainer: Why are people demonstrating in Malawi? -- Mark Tran, The Guardian