Malawi and Tanzania have formal relations.
History Malawi and Tanzania established diplomatic relations in 1985.
Lake Malawi dispute
The two countries share a border at Lake Malawi; the border demarcation has been a dispute between the two countries since the independence of both nations. Several diplomatic exchanges have erupted over time, however, both countries have not come to an agreement. The lake is referred to as Lake Nyasa in Tanzania.
High-level visits
July 2023, Samia Suluhu Hasan made a state visit to Malawi to attend the 59th independence anniversary celebrations.
Trade and economy
Malawi gets a significant amount its imports/exports through the port of Port of Dar es Salaam. Malawi and Tanzania have one major land crossing in Songwe-Kasumulu; both countries are working to develop a one-stop border post at the crossing. Alternatively, various ferries operate between the two countries on Lake Malawi with the two major ports being Mbamba Bay (Tanzania) and Nkhata Bay (Malawi).
Malawi Airlines operates regular scheduled flights between Malawi and Julius Nyerere International Airport.
2025 trade war
In early 2025, Malawi and Tanzania became embroiled in a trade dispute that temporarily disrupted bilateral economic relations. The conflict began in March when Malawi imposed a ban on agricultural imports from Tanzania and other countries, citing the need to support local industries and address foreign exchange shortages. This measure came despite Malawi’s heavy reliance on Tanzanian bananas, which made up the bulk of over $491,000 in banana imports in 2023.
In retaliation, Tanzania implemented its own ban in April, halting all agricultural imports from Malawi and extending restrictions to include fertilizer exports and even goods transiting through its territory to Malawi. The escalation affected traders and markets across the region, particularly given Malawi’s dependence on Tanzanian seaports for fuel and other imports, as access through Mozambique remained unreliable due to conflict and unrest.
A resolution was reached in early May through high-level bilateral talks, leading to a joint communique and the lifting of trade restrictions. However, while diplomatic ties normalized, practical supply chain recovery for affected traders remained ongoing as of May 2025.
Resident diplomatic missions
Malawi has a high commission in Dar es Salaam. Tanzania has a high commission in Lilongwe.
Tanzanian High Commissioners to Malawi The following is a list of Tanzanian High Commissioners to Malawi. +NameStart EndPresidentMaj. Gen. Makame M. Rashid20042009Benjamin MkapaJakaya KikwetePatrick Luciano Tsere20102015Jakaya KikweteVictoria Richard Mwakasege20152017John MagufuliBenedict Martin Mashiba1 August 201715 March 2022John Magufuli Samia Suluhu HassanHumphrey Polepole15 March 20223 April 2023Samia Suluhu HassanAgnes Richard Kayola24 July 2023presentSamia Suluhu Hassan
See also
Mtwara Development Corridor TAZARA Railway
References