Paesen told a three-day peace building workshop to train Nice staff and partners that it was in the interest of everyone to “de-escalate” the post-election violence and bring peace to Malawi.

The petitioning by opposition MCP and UTM to declare the May 21 presidential vote null and void, has led to unprecedented political impasse and violent demos which has seen a police officer stoned to death, public and private property burned and looting at large scale.

The Ambassador said the unrest was behind the outcome of the elections, saying the “issues are broader and around poverty, accountability, access and lack of justice and the youth whose aspirations are not being met in the context of increasing poverty.”

The workshop was bankrolled by the Commonwealth, a grouping of 53 member states who were under the British colonial power.

Abubakar Abdullahi, a Commonwealth officer, said they funded the meeting because it anchored on the Commonwealth Charter which Malawi is a signatory.

He said the workshop was timely and he believed it was a response to the political tension which has engulfed the country.