Malawian-South African relations

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**Malawian - South African relations**


Malawi	South Africa

Malawian-South African relations refers to the bilateral relationship between the Republic of Malawi and the Republic of South Africa. South Africa's first formal relationship with an independent African country was established with Malawi, beginning in 1967.^[1]

1 Colonial era relations
2 1964-1994
3 Democratic relations (1994-)
4 References

[edit] Colonial era relations

[edit] 1964-1994

The colonial structures of Malawian labor export to South African mines continued after Malawi achieved independence in 1964. Led by dictator Hastings Banda, Malawi was the only African country to maintain close relations with White-ruled South Africa until the 1994 election of Nelson Mandela. Malawians were viewed as important workers in the South African mines due to their "skills, work discipline and lack of militancy"^[2] From 1988 to 1992, around 13,000 Malawian migrant laborers were forcefully repatriated out of South Africa. Officially, this was due to the fact that 200 Malawians had tested positive for HIV in the previous two years, but many believe that it was due the need for retrenchment of laborers during a crisis in South Africa's mining industry.^[3]

[edit] Democratic relations (1994-)

Since South Africa and Malawi had their first democratic elections in 1994, Malawi and South Africa have enhanced relations. In 2008, the two governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding designed to enhance the relationship between the two countries through enhanced security cooperation.^[4]