Joyce Banda Becomes Malawi President

Joyce Banda, Malawian vice president and women’s right activist, was sworn in as the nation’s new president on April 7. She transition to power after the death of President Bingu wa Mutharika last Thursday and is the third woman to serve as a head of state in Africa.

Banda’s new role puts her in the spotlight to tackle Malawi’s economic and government challenges. Mutharika’s disagreements with individual donor nations, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund decreased development aid to the country. He also tried to remove her as vice president after disagreements that led to a political falling out between the two.

According to news reports, Malawi is one of the poorest counties in the world and 75 percent of population is living on less than $1 a day.

For more information, read the full articles on The Christian Science Monitor and BBC News.