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US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived Sunday in the Malawian capital Lilongwe, becoming the first US chief diplomat to visit the southern African country.
A military guard of honour and groups performing traditional dances, chanting and beating drums welcomed her at Kamuzu International Airport.
Clinton will meet with President Joyce Banda, Africa’s second woman leader after Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, at her official residence State House, before a short trip to the US embassy.
She travelled from Kenya, where she met with presidents from Kenya and Somalia as part of a marathon Africa tour.
Banda was sworn in as president in April following the death of late president Bingu wa Mutharika.
She swiftly set about restoring relations with foreign donors, who had suspended funds due to concerns about hardline governance and rights issues under Mutharika.
In June the US said it would restore aid worth $350 million to Malawi’s energy sector in light of Banda’s “bold actions” to reform the government.
