Tweet
Malawi's President Bingu wa Mutharika died early on Friday, hours after the 78-year-old suffered a heart attack, a hospital source said of the southern African nation's leader for the past eight years.
Mr. Mutharika, a former World Bank economist who first came to power in 2004, was re-elected with a sweeping majority in 2009 as President of the poor southern African country.
His Vice-President, Joyce Banda, is next in line to run the country, according to the Constitution. But her succession to power could create new political tensions, because Mr. Mutharika kicked her out of the ruling party in 2010 as he chose to groom his brother as heir apparent instead of her. The official silence has heightened anxieties in Malawi, which has seen growing discontent with Mr. Mutharika's government over the last year. Rights groups have accused Mr. Mutharika of mismanaging the economy and trampling on democracy.
Mr. Mutharika, a former World Bank economist who first came to power in 2004, was re-elected with a sweeping majority in 2009 as President of the poor southern African country.
His Vice-President, Joyce Banda, is next in line to run the country, according to the Constitution. But her succession to power could create new political tensions, because Mr. Mutharika kicked her out of the ruling party in 2010 as he chose to groom his brother as heir apparent instead of her. The official silence has heightened anxieties in Malawi, which has seen growing discontent with Mr. Mutharika's government over the last year. Rights groups have accused Mr. Mutharika of mismanaging the economy and trampling on democracy.
Comment