MALAWI: NEW AU CHAIRMAN RETURNS IN TRIUMPH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LILONGWE 000110 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL AU EAID ECON EINV MI SUBJECT: MALAWI: NEW AU CHAIRMAN RETURNS IN TRIUMPH REF: 10 LILONGWE 80 SUMMARY ¶1. (U) President Bingu wa Mutharika returned to Malawi in triumph from the AU summit in Addis Ababa on February 1. Local media had presented the election for the AU chairmanship as a showdown between Mutharika and outgoing chairman Muammar al-Quadhafi. Most Malawians viewed the President's election to the AU chairmanship as a cause for national celebration. Upon arrival in Malawi, Mutharika slammed al-Quadhafi's vision for a "United States of Africa." In the week since Mutharika's return, a public debate ensued over whether the AU chairmanship will bring any practical benefit to the nation. On February 8, Malawi's parliament approved a supplementary budget of US$ 6 million to support Mutharika's AU activities. End summary. BINGU WINS "SHOWDOWN" WITH QUADAFFI... ¶2. (SBU) President Bingu wa Mutharika returned from the AU summit in Addis Ababa on February 1 to an enthusiastic reception in Malawi. Malawi media had covered the summit in detail and had billed the election as a fight between Mutharika - and by extension a small, poor Malawi - against oil-rich Libya's Muammar al-Quadhafi. The February 1 edition of daily newspaper The Nation carried the headline "Bingu Floors Gaddafi at AU" and related how Mutharika had frustrated the Libyan leader who was "seeking another term in office in spite of the rotation and tenure rules that barred him" (reftel). ...AND REPUDIATES THE COLONEL'S "U.S.A." ¶3. (SBU) Upon arrival at Lilongwe's Kamuzu International Airport on February 4, Mutharika held a press conference where he dismissed al-Quadhafi's vision of a "United States of Africa." Branding the Libyan leader a johnny-come-lately to Pan-Africanism, Mutharika accused al-Quadhafi of hijacking the idea of an African federal government from the late Ghanaian President Kwame Nkrumah. "Others want to reap where they did not sow," Mutharika chided. The AU's new chairman concluded by stating that the Colonel had pushed the union in order to realize his dream of ruling the entire continent. AND THE BILL? ¶4. (SBU) In the week since Mutharika's return, a public debate has ensued in Malawi over whether the chairmanship will bring any practical benefits to the nation. Two camps have emerged - those who feel that Mutharika's election has already benefited Malawi by increasing the nation's visibility on the world stage and those, mostly from Malawian civil society, who are concerned about the costs involved with the AU Chairmanship. Mavuto Bamusi, national coordinator of the Human Rights Consultative Committee, pointedly asked for a detailed accounting of future AU expenses, noting that "such funds can be abused to finance non-AU related activities." ¶5. (U) These concerns were played out in Malawi's Parliament in a lively debate over the government's request for an initial appropriation of US$ 6 million to support Mutharika's activities. Opposition party members called on GOM Minister of Finance Ken Kandodo to produce hard figures on the total cost of the AU chairmanship. United Democratic Front (UDF) parliamentarian Mah'mudu Lali, while applauding Mutharika's victory, stressed the need for government to provide details because "the funds going towards the new position will come from the taxpayers." Parliament passed the appropriation on February 8. LILONGWE 00000110 002 OF 002 COMMENT ¶6. (SBU) President Mutharika's election as AU Chairman is a proud moment for all Malawians. His selection as AU Chairman will only strengthen the President's political position at home as long as he can avoid scandal over the related financial outlays. BODDE