The African Union Commission Chairperson, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, congratulated Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika on his victory in the 16 September 2025 general elections in Malawi.

The Chairperson commended the people of Malawi for their "enthusiastic, peaceful, and orderly participation throughout the credible democratic process."

In a statement released Thursday morning, he also applauded President Lazarus Chakwera and the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP) presidential candidate for “gracefully conceding defeat, even before the official announcement of results by the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).”

The Chairperson extended appreciation to Hailemariam Dessalegn Boshe, former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, as Head of the AU-COMESA Joint Election Observation Mission to Malawi, and to Ambassador Ashraf Rashed, Chair of the COMESA Committee of Elders, for their effective leadership of the Joint Mission.

He reaffirmed the AU’s commitment to implementing Agenda 2063, premised on promoting and safeguarding constitutional democracy and inclusive governance in all AU Member States.

Neighbouring Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema also issued a statement congratulating Malawi's President-elect, Peter Mutharika.

Arthur Peter Mutharika was declared Malawi’s President-elect on Wednesday night, having secured 56.8% of the vote in the country’s tripartite election held on 16 September 2025.