Emergency Grant Aid to the African Union for Supporting its Initiatives concerning the Darfur Issue

May 16, 2006

On May 16 (Tue), the Government of Japan decided to extend an emergency grant aid of approximately US$8,674,000 (about 963 million yen) to the African Union (AU) to support its efforts with regard to the Darfur issue. Japan's assistance will be used for public information operations and humanitarian assistance conducted by the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) as well as for peace talks and the Darfur Integrated Task Force.
In Darfur, located in western Sudan, domestic conflict intensified in 2003 and has caused a serious security and humanitarian crisis, producing a large number of deaths, refugees and internally displaced persons. Since a ceasefire was agreed in April 2004, the AU has been trying to ensure its effective enforcement by sending the AMIS and making political efforts including by mediating a peace agreement among the parties concerned.
Japan's assistance to such AU activities is expected to contribute to improving the security and humanitarian situation in Darfur, and further to bringing about peace and stability in Sudan and thus the surrounding regions.
Emphasizing "consolidation of peace" in Africa as a key pillar of its cooperation policy with Africa, Japan has been supporting Africa's efforts for peace and stability, including by holding the TICAD Conference on Consolidation of Peace in February this year. In April 2005, Japan pledged assistance of $100 million for the near term to help consolidate peace in Sudan, recognizing that stability in Sudan is crucial for that of the region.

The present emergency assistance for the AU's initiatives concerning the Darfur issue is part of Japan's efforts mentioned above, as well as a follow-through on the commitment that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi made with regard to the Darfur issue during his visit to Africa earlier this month.

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