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Malawi refers lake border dispute with Tanzania to UN
December 5, 2016 Nyasa Times Reporter
Malawi has formally protested to the international community including United Nations (UN), government has confirmed.
The border of Lake Malawi , which is potentially rich in oil and gas, is a subject of conflict between Malawi and with Tanzania .
Malawi disputes Tanzania’s claim to half the lake – Africa’s third biggest.
Tanzania is promoting a new map showing that the east African country owns part of the Lake Malawi.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation has advised international community to disregard Tanzania’s new map.
“Malawi government would not have just remained silent because that would mean acknowledgeing the purported new map,” said spokespeeson for Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation.
The neighbours have disagreed over their border since independence, and report that the lake had vast oil and gas reserves has reignited the ongoing dispute over the boundaries on Lake Malawi.
Malawi has awarded oil exploration licences to international firms such as Hamra Oil of United Arab Emirates to search for oil in the lake, which Tanzania calls Lake Nyasa.
Chief Secretary George Mkondiwa has advised the officials to disregard the “half truth”s by Tanzania by rejecting use of any document bearing such misinformation.
“Malawi will never, and has never, at any time, acquiesced to Tanzania’s unwarranted and unjustified territorial claims,” Mkondiwa said.
Mkondiwa added:“Malawi government would like to call upon all officials in government ministries, departments, and agencies to be alert on this matter and to continue rejecting and refusing to use all such maps appearing in any form or media including calendars, diaries, official documentation or other documents for any purpose or business.”
Meanwhile, Malawi wants the international community, including the UN to resolve the dispute.
December 5, 2016 Nyasa Times Reporter
Malawi has formally protested to the international community including United Nations (UN), government has confirmed.
The border of Lake Malawi , which is potentially rich in oil and gas, is a subject of conflict between Malawi and with Tanzania .
Malawi disputes Tanzania’s claim to half the lake – Africa’s third biggest.
Tanzania is promoting a new map showing that the east African country owns part of the Lake Malawi.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation has advised international community to disregard Tanzania’s new map.
“Malawi government would not have just remained silent because that would mean acknowledgeing the purported new map,” said spokespeeson for Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation.
The neighbours have disagreed over their border since independence, and report that the lake had vast oil and gas reserves has reignited the ongoing dispute over the boundaries on Lake Malawi.
Malawi has awarded oil exploration licences to international firms such as Hamra Oil of United Arab Emirates to search for oil in the lake, which Tanzania calls Lake Nyasa.
Chief Secretary George Mkondiwa has advised the officials to disregard the “half truth”s by Tanzania by rejecting use of any document bearing such misinformation.
“Malawi will never, and has never, at any time, acquiesced to Tanzania’s unwarranted and unjustified territorial claims,” Mkondiwa said.
Mkondiwa added:“Malawi government would like to call upon all officials in government ministries, departments, and agencies to be alert on this matter and to continue rejecting and refusing to use all such maps appearing in any form or media including calendars, diaries, official documentation or other documents for any purpose or business.”
Meanwhile, Malawi wants the international community, including the UN to resolve the dispute.