This April, Joyce Banda unexpectedly became Malawi's first female president after the death of President Bingu wa Mutharika.

FORBES: Joyce Banda

Malawi welcomed al-Bashir last year for a regional trade meeting when the country was led by President Bingu wa Mutharika.

CNN: Malawi drops AU summit over Sudanese leader

The sudden death of nearby Malawi's president, Bingu wa Mutharika, from a heart attack on April 5th, has helped to focus concern.

ECONOMIST: Politics in Zimbabwe