African Union congratulates Mutharika on Malawi election win

The African Union congratulated Peter Mutharika for his election win in Malawi on Thursday, commending Malawians for a peaceful campaign.

The veteran politician, who held power from 2014 to 2020, was re-elected with nearly 57 percent of the vote to lead the country of 21 million people.

It was a landslide win over incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera's 33 percent, Malawi's election commission said on Wednesday.

The chair of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, expressed his congratulations to 85-year-old Mutharika.

In a statement posted on X, he said he "commends all the people of Malawi for their enthusiastic, peaceful and orderly engagement in this credible democratic process".

Swearing-in

Mutharika, known by his supporters as "father", must be sworn into office between seven and 30 days of the announcement of his victory.

He pledged economic growth and an end to a foreign exchange shortage that has restricted imports of fuel and fertiliser.

More than 70 percent of the country lives in poverty, according to the World Bank's benchmark.