Malawi to open its first diplomatic mission in Israel in Jerusalem
Should Malawi make good on its pledge, it would be the first African country to take this step.
By TOVAH LAZAROFFOpposition Malawi Congress Party leader Lazarus Chakwera addresses supporters after a court annulled the May 2019 presidential vote that declared Peter Mutharika a winner, in Lilongwe, Malawi, February 4, 2020(photo credit: REUTERS/ELDSON CHAGARA)
The East African country of Malawi announced over the weekend that it would open its first ever diplomatic mission in Israel, placing that building in Jerusalem.The Christian nation has had relations with Israel since 1964, but neither country has opened an embassy in the other’s territory.On Friday, Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera promised to open a diplomatic mission to Jerusalem as he addressed the country’s parliament and spoke of the need to reform its Foreign Ministry.“The reforms will also include a review of our diplomatic presence, including our resolve to have new diplomatic missions in Lagos, Nigeria, and Jerusalem, Israel. I will be sharing more details about this in the near future.”Although Chakwera, who became president in April of this year, spoke of a diplomatic mission, it is presumed he is referencing an embassy. Should Malawi make good on its pledge, it would be the first African country to take this step, either for a diplomatic office or an embassy.Chakwera was in Israel last year prior to the election and visited Jerusalem, including the Old City and the Western Wall.To date, only the United States and Guatemala have embassies in Jerusalem, while the remainder of the 87 embassies in Israel are located in the Tel Aviv area.On Friday US President Donald Trump announced that Serbia and Kosovo would open embassies in Jerusalem.Separately Honduras has also promised to open an embassy in Jerusalem.The bulk of the international community has refused to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, holding that such status could only be granted upon conclusion of a final status agreement for a two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Trump’s peace plan clarifies that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital. America has pushed for other countries to recognize this by relocating their embassies there.
