UK's former Premier Blair pulls out as official consultant to Malawi's President Banda

LONDON

Former British Prime Minister and official Envoy of the Quartet on the Middle East Tony Blair has announced that he has decided to withdraw as adviser to the African state Malawi's President Joyce Banda.

Even though a statement made from the spokesman of Malawi’s president said that Blair and his team's pull-out decision was not related to a corruption scandal in the country, the British govenment froze its aid payments to Malawi in response to the crisis last year following the corruption news.

The African state was shaken by the news of large amounts of money being found at homes and in cars of various government officials.  However, a charity formed by the former premier and called the Tony Blair Africa Governance Initiative (AGI) noted that they were aware of the decision of AGI staff planning to end their work in Malawi at the begining of 2014. In addition, Malawian presidential press secretary said that the withdrawal of AGI staff was planned before the corruption scandal broke.

British press drew attention to the fact that it was the first time Tony Blair pulled out of one of the countries he advises.

Malawi continues to struggle economically and is mainly dependent on financial aid from the EU and other foreign powers.

englishnews@aa.com.tr