Section 7. Africa
1-1. Progress in Democratization and Efforts toward Economic Structural Adjustments
With rapid democratization, economic structural adjustments to overcome persistently severe economic difficulties and the rapid developments in South Africa, Africa is currently at its greatest turning point since 1960, which was called the "Year of Africa."
Immediately after independence, African countries, which needed to bring together different tribes and to maintain national unity, introduced centralized political systems under strong leaderships and single-party dictatorships. On the economic scene, due to the paucity of local private capital, these countries had to resort to state-led economic management to build their economies. Moreover, as a reaction to the former colonial domination and influenced by the Cold War, many countries introduced socialist economic policies. These policies having failed, many countries had to introduce economic structural adjustment policies (Note) with the initiative of the World Bank or the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
On the other hand, under the influence of the democratization movements in the Soviet Union and Central and Eastern Europe, public dissatisfaction with harsh living conditions was manifested in the form of anti-governmental criticism, and the awareness of the people seeking democratization has increased. As a result, many governments started to make efforts to introduce a multi-party political system and to hold democratic elections. The democratization movement is now an irreversible trend.
1-2. Japan's Policy on Africa
From the humanitarian point of view and from the perspective of fulfilling the responsibility commensurate with its international standing, Japan supports the efforts made by the African nations themselves to implement reforms and to overcome their economic difficulties.
Expectations by the African countries toward Japan are quite strong, and the number of African high-ranking officials visiting Japan is surging. Representatives from 45 African countries, including 11 heads of states, attended the Enthronement Ceremony of the Emperor in November 1990. From Japan, Mr. Muneo Suzuki, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, visited Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa in July 1991.
Japanese bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Africa has conspicuously increased in recent years. The 1989 aid figure on a net disbursement basis increased four times from that of 1985, corresponding to 15 percent of Japan's total external assistance, which ranked Japan as the third largest donor country to Africa following France and Italy. Furthermore, about 60 percent of Japanese bilateral ODA consists of grant aid and technical assistance which do not require repayment.
2-1. South Africa
The reform process toward the abolition of Apartheid in South Africa has now become irreversible. Following the release of Mr. Nelson Mandela and the unbanning of anti-Apartheid organizations including the African National Congress (ANC) in February 1990, the state of emergency was lifted by October the same year throughout South Africa. The issue of the release of political prisoners has been basically settled and has ceased to be an obstacle in the way of the commencement of formal negotiation process. Moreover, in June 1991, remaining legal pillars of Apartheid, i.e. the Population Registration Act, the Group Areas Act, and the Land Acts (Note), were repealed. The abolition of the above laws means that the remaining task of abolishing Apartheid, which legally enforces different treatment on the basis of race, is required before the establishment of a new Constitution that accords voting rights to all people, including blacks.
This progress of reforms in South Africa largely owes to the leadership of President Frederik W. de Klerk and ANC President Nelson Mandela. Based on the recognition shared by both leaders that there is no future for South Africa if Apartheid is maintained, they are strongly committed to finding a peaceful settlement of the South African problem. Although several setbacks can be foreseen before the establishment of non-racial democracy in South Africa, it is expected that the parties concerned will endeavor to surmount the difficulties and that negotiations to establish a new Constitution will start in the near future.
Welcoming those positive changes in South Africa, Japan is implementing policy measures from the perspective of supporting efforts toward a peaceful solution of the South African problem. First, Japan is seeking enhanced dialogues with the South African Government, the ANC and other relevant organizations. The invitation to Japan of ANC President Mandela (then Vice-President) in October 1990 was part of such measures. In July 1991, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Suzuki visited South Africa. Second, Japan is strengthening its support of the black population so that non-white citizens, and especially blacks, can play an active role in the new South African society. Toward that goal, the Japanese Government is expanding assistance to NGOs and U.N. Education and Training Programs for Southern Africa. On the occasion of Mr. Mandela's visit to Japan, the Government of Japan decided to invite trainees from South Africa and to extend small-scale grant aid programs to support NGO activities in South Africa. Japan's restrictive measures vis-a-vis South Africa covered political, economic and cultural spheres that were broad and severe in comparison with measures taken by other countries. In view of the positive developments in South Africa, including the repeal of the legal pillars of Apartheid, restrictions on people-to-people contact between the two countries were relaxed in June 1991. The Government of Japan is also reviewing other measures in accordance with the development in the situation.
Reforms in South Africa have large potential impacts not confined to the country but also on Southern Africa, or even Africa as a whole. Japan intends to actively contribute to the movements toward the establishment of a new order in Africa.
2-2. Regional Conflicts
Changes in the East-West relations due to the reduction of tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union put impetus to the settlement of regional conflicts in the African continent. At the same time, due to the decline in crisis management capability by the two superpowers, regional disputes can evolve even further. Therefore, greater efforts by the African countries themselves will be required to settle these conflicts.
(1) Angola
Since independence, civil war has continued for 16 years in Angola. Full-scale negotiations between the Angolan Government and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) started in September 1990 with Portugal, the former colonial master, as an intermediary, and the United States and the Soviet Union participating as observers. As a result, a comprehensive Peace Accord was signed in May 1991. A cease-fire took effect accordingly, and free elections are expected to be held in the Autumn of 1992 with the participation of multiple parties, under an international framework involving the United Nations. Angola's case serves as a prominent example of the reduction of tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union leading to regional stabilization.
(2) Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, with intensified offensives by the Eritrean People's Liberation Front and the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, which had been demanding independence or greater autonomy, the Mengistu Government collapsed in May 1991, terminating the 30-year civil war. Thereafter, responding to the agreement reached in the National Conference in which broad political forces participated, a transitional government was established in August. A national election is to be held within two to two-and-a-half years under international monitoring. As for the question of Eritrean independence, a referendum is scheduled to be held within two years.
(3) Somalia
In January 1991, President Mohamed Siad Barre, who had been in power since 1969, was driven out of the capital and the country became segmented into many groups based on clans. Although efforts are being made, the outlook for peace settlement is not yet in sight.
(4) Liberia
The conflict, which started in December 1989 between the government forces and anti-government guerrilla groups due to deteriorating economic conditions and rivalries between tribes, was intensified after massacres between tribes, the dispatch of peace-keeping troops by the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) and the assassination of President Doe. In July 1991, the West African countries concerned with the participation of the fighting parties held a summit in Yamoussoukro, Cote d'Ivoire, and decided on the general and presidential elections to be held by January 1992. The situation, however, remains unstable.