The African Union congratulated Peter Mutharika for his election win in Malawi on Thursday, commending Malawians for a peaceful campaign.
The veteran politician, who held power from 2014 to 2020, was re-elected with nearly 57 percent of the vote to lead the country of 21 million people.
It was a landslide win over incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera's 33 percent, Malawi's election commission said on Wednesday.
The chair of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, expressed his congratulations to 85-year-old Mutharika.
In a statement posted on X, he said he "commends all the people of Malawi for their enthusiastic, peaceful and orderly engagement in this credible democratic process".
Swearing-in
Mutharika, known by his supporters as "father", must be sworn into office between seven and 30 days of the announcement of his victory.
He pledged economic growth and an end to a foreign exchange shortage that has restricted imports of fuel and fertiliser.
More than 70 percent of the country lives in poverty, according to the World Bank's benchmark.
