Malawi ‘refers lake dispute with Tanzania to AU’. Is Joyce Banda flip-flopping?

Malawi’s President Joyce Banda has asked the African Union to intervene in the country’s border dispute with Tanzania, state media has reported.

Malawi broke off talks with Tanzania earlier this month over the border on Lake Malawi, which is potentially rich in oil and gas

After Malawi withdrew from the talks with Tanzania, Mrs Banda said she would refer the dispute to the International Court of Justice for a ruling.

However, state owned Malawi Broadcasting Corporation reports that Mrs Banda asked the AU to help resolve the dispute in talks with its chairman, Benin’s President Yayi Boni.

It is probably a case of misrepresentation by the state media, but such abrupt decision making by the president will not help Malawi on this issue and on any other issue.

Last year, Malawi awarded oil exploration licences to UK-based Surestream Petroleum to search for oil in the lake, this has not gone well with Tanzania.