Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Malawi.

The UK welcomes the peaceful conduct of fresh Presidential elections in Malawi on 23 June. Malawi has a long history of respect for democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Malawians can be rightly proud of their commitment to resolving political differences through their country's democratic institutions and processes, including in the aftermath of the contested 2019 Presidential elections. I sent my congratulations to President Chakwera on 29 June. As a long term friend of Malawi, I look forward to working with the new Government to tackle the issues that matter to all Malawians.

The UK has consistently encouraged all political parties in Malawi to respect the rule of law, follow due process under the constitution, and respect the rulings of Malawi's courts. Following the May 2019 Presidential elections, we urged de-escalation of inflammatory rhetoric and peaceful campaigning from all sides. We also urged the parties to be mindful of the risks of holding an election campaign during the Covid pandemic. I reiterated these messages in a phone call with then Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs on 15 May, as did the UK Chargé d'Affaires in his meeting with then President Mutharika on 11 May.