Malawi 2nd VP Chihana holds high-stakes bilateral meeting with Arab Bank chief

Malawi’s Second Vice President Enock Kamzingeni Chihana has held crunch bilateral talks with the President of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), Abdullah Almusaibeeh, in a bid to unlock fresh development opportunities for Malawi.

The high-stakes meeting took place on the sidelines of the 46th Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government in Durban, South Africa, as Chihana continues a packed diplomatic schedule far from home.

The talks form part of an intense round of engagements the Second Vice President has been holding on the margins of the regional summit, using the gathering as an opportunity to court potential development partners and secure fresh commitments that could benefit Malawi’s economy.

Details of specific outcomes from the meeting have not yet been made public, but the engagement underscores Malawi’s efforts to strengthen ties with key financial institutions capable of supporting the country’s development priorities.

BADEA, headquartered in Khartoum, has long positioned itself as a major financier of development projects across the African continent, making Wednesday’s meeting a potentially significant one for Malawi’s future economic prospects.

Chihana’s Durban itinerary has already included high-level talks with Mozambican President Daniel Francisco Chapo, alongside his participation in the SADC Organ Troika Summit — cementing his role as Malawi’s leading voice on the international stage this week.

As the whirlwind diplomatic tour continues, all eyes will now turn to whether the discussions with BADEA translate into concrete development support for Malawi in the months ahead.