AU SUMMIT: NEW AU CHAIR MALAWI PLANS FOOD SECURITY PUSH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000278 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/E, AF/S, AF/W, AF/C, AND DRL LONDON FOR PLORD PARIS FOR WBAIN USEU FOR AFRICA WATCHER SECDEF FOR DASD VICKI HUDDLESTON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM XA SUBJECT: AU SUMMIT: NEW AU CHAIR MALAWI PLANS FOOD SECURITY PUSH THIS MESSAGE IS FROM USAU AMBASSADOR MICHAEL BATTLE ¶1. (U) February 1, 2010, 4:00 p.m.; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ¶2. (U) Participants: United States Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson USAU Ambassador Michael Battle Special Assistant Akunna Cook USAU Acting DCM Joel Maybury AU Desk Officer Ryan Bowles (notetaker) Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika ¶3. (SBU) Summary: Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika was in an upbeat mood on February 1 during his meeting with Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson on the sidelines of the African Union (AU) Summit. Elected the day before by AU member states as the new AU chairperson, Mutharika spoke of his intention to focus on food security during his term. He demurred on the subject of criminalizing homosexual behavior, but opined that homosexuality ran counter to Malawian norms. On Zimbabwe, Mutharika said he intended to use his new position to attempt to move the Global Political Agreement forward. End Summary. ¶4. (SBU) A/S Carson met with Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika on February 1 on the margins of the AU Summit. Carson began the discussion by offering Mutharika his and Secretary Clinton's congratulations on Malawi's election the day before to be the next chairperson of the AU. Carson praised the move as a good one for the AU, and said it was good for the AU's image to move on from the previous AU chairperson, Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi. -------------- Plans for the AU: Food Security -------------- ¶5. (U) Mutharika told Carson that his top priorities as AU chairperson are in the areas of food security and good governance. He wants to take advantage of this year's AU Summit theme -- science and technology -- and work towards an AU compact on using technology to attack food security problems. Mutharika would like AU member states to set a goal of ending child hunger within five years. He said that if Malawi could become food secure during his short time as President, it was achievable for all African countries. ¶6. (U) Mutharika was proud of Malawi's achievements in agriculture, and pointed out huge increases in crop yields per acre under the policies of his administration. He even claimed that as a result Malawian people now referred to 50 kg bags of maize as "Bingus," after his first name. Carson responded that the United States would welcome a strong African partner like Malawi as we roll out our Food Security Initiative, which will have a strong African focus. Carson also pointed to U.S. prowess in agriculture as a major reason for our national success. Mutharika agreed, saying that Africa "cannot have development on an empty stomach." He thought that food security and hunger were root problems which would hold back long term development. ¶7. (U) Mutharika was passionate and persuasive as he discussed the various programs his administration put in place to increase agricultural production. His government is creating a "green belt" for 20km on each side of major rivers and lakes in Malawi, and paying for irrigation, hydro-electric, and fish farming. Malawi is also working to create a strong agricultural extension service, and educate farmers on the use of fertilizer. Although there is a strong government role now, he wants farming in Malawi to be a commercial venture like any other. Mutharika will soon write President Obama about his ideas on food security. -------------- Anti-Homosexual legislation -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Carson raised the sensitive issue of protection for homosexuals in Malawi, and said that it was difficult to believe ADDIS ABAB 00000278 002 OF 002 that homosexual behavior should be treated as a criminal offense, with jail time, in the same way that we look at a bank robber or other criminals. Mutharika responded by saying that this issue was currently in the Malawian court system; the anti-homosexuality laws were being utilized for the first time in Malawian history; and that consequently he could not comment since the issue was pending in the courts. ¶9. (SBU) Mutharika spoke at length about various biblical and social reasons why homosexual behavior ran counter to African tradition, saying at one point that Malawians looked at nature and saw "no male lions having sex with other male lions," leading them to believe that homosexuality was unnatural. He never spoke directly to the issue of why homosexual behavior should be criminalized, but did say that he thought there was no appetite in Malawi for legislation along the lines of that which is under consideration in Uganda. ¶10. (SBU) Mutharika thought that "a solution would be found" in the case being tried now in the courts, however, he said it was difficult for either side to make categorical claims since there is absolutely no case law on this subject. He emphasized that courts in Malawi were independent, and he was unable to intervene at this point. -------------- Zimbabwe -------------- ¶11. (SBU) Carson asked if Mutharika planned to use his new AU hat to engage on Zimbabwe. Mutharika said he knew both Tsvangirai and Mugabe, and hoped to reach out them soon. He wants to backtrack to before the polarization and find common ground. He lamented the Southern African Development Community process, which he said always looked optimistic after leaders consulted, but was always beaten back by Mugabe. Mutharika said he was not optimistic, but was still hopeful for a breakthrough. He said he knows that friendship with both players will not be able to carry him through this mediation. -------------- --- African governance, and Mutharika's future plans -------------- --- ¶12. (SBU) Mutharika pointed to his public statement after assuming the AU chairmanship, and said that he wanted to strengthen the AU's resolve even further against unconstitutional changes in government. He said that Malawi had a strong democracy, and that there were no new political prisoners since he took office. Mutharika said that he plans to step down in May 2014 at the end of his second term, and that he was already building his retirement house. ¶13. (U) A/S Carson did not clear on this cable. YATES