3 Southern Africa

(1) Angola

Democracy is taking root in Angola, and the country plays an important role in the stability of the region, backed by a stable political infrastructure. It is one of Africa's leading oil-producing countries, rich in mineral resources such as diamonds, and has great potential in the fields of fisheries and agriculture. President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço is actively working to improve the business environment with the aim of diversifying and stabilizing the economy. When he was re-elected in September, member of the House of Representatives SAKURADA Yoshitaka, attended the inauguration ceremony from Japan as a special envoy of the Prime Minister. At the Japan-Angola Foreign Ministers' Meeting held during the TICAD Ministerial Meeting in March, the two sides discussed the impact of the situation in Ukraine on soaring food prices and supply chains.

(2) Eswatini

Eswatini maintains the only absolute monarchy in Africa under King Mswati III. In April 2018, the country changed its name from the “Kingdom of Swaziland” to the “Kingdom of Eswatini.” It is the only country in Africa that has diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

In August, Foreign Minister Hayashi held talks with King Mswati III, who attended TICAD 8. Deputy Prime Minister Themba Nhlanganiso Masuku attended the state funeral for the late Prime Minister ABE Shinzo in September, activating high-level political exchanges.

Foreign Minister Hayashi pays courtesy call to King Mswati III of Eswatini (August 27, Tunis, Tunisia)

(3) Zambia

Zambia, which has abundant mineral resources, has been working on economic diversification in recent years to shift its economy away from over-dependence on minerals. In November 2020, due to non-payment of interest on Eurobonds, Zambia defaulted for the first time in Africa since the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, under the Hakainde Hichilema administration, which came into power after a democratic change of government, the government has made economic restructuring its top priority and is working to restructure its debt through international cooperation. Japan is working with like-minded countries to support its debt restructuring. In August 2022, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Board of Governors approved an assistance program. Later that month, Foreign Minister Hayashi met with Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, Minister of Finance and National Planning, who was attending TICAD 8, and discussed fiscal rehabilitation.

(4) Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country where successive kingdoms have prospered between the 11th and 15th centuries, leaving behind a large group of stone ruins known as “Great Zimbabwe.” Japan has had diplomatic relations with the country since its independence in 1980. The country is facing challenges in managing their economy as the Western countries have imposed sanctions such as freezing the assets of certain companies and individuals and banning them from traveling. Vice President of the Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ruling party), Kembo C. D. Mohadi, attended the state funeral for the late Prime Minister ABE Shinzo in September and paid a courtesy call to Prime Minister Kishida.

(5) Namibia

Namibia has abundant marine and mineral resources, and as a distribution hub on the Atlantic side of southern Africa, it is expected that its trade and investment will expand in the fields of resource development and energy. Although the country faces challenges such as poverty and inequality, high unemployment rates, anti-corruption, and a lack of social infrastructure, it has enjoyed a stable political situation since its independence in 1990 and actively engaged in regional cooperation in Southern Africa.

(6) Botswana

Botswana has had good governance with a stable political situation since its independence, and the country is rich in mineral resources such as diamonds. It was the first country in Africa to adopt the Japanese digital terrestrial broadcasting system (ISDB-T system) in 2013 and achieved the first complete transition to the Japanese standard of digital terrestrial broadcasting in 2022, among other countries that adopted the Japanese system. In recent years, it has been focusing on diversifying industry and reducing poverty with the aim of breaking away from its diamond-dependent economy.

(7) Malawi

Malawi has maintained relatively stable domestic affairs since its independence in 1964, and is currently making efforts to promote friendly diplomacy with neighboring countries under President Chakwera. The country is grappling with fiscal reconstruction, improvement of agricultural productivity, and an economic structure dependent on primary agricultural products.

(8) South Africa

South Africa is an economic powerhouse in Africa that continues to attract the interest of foreign companies, including Japanese companies, as a base for business development. South Africa also has a strong presence in the international arena as the only African member of the G20. Going forward, further cooperation on energy and mineral resources is expected. In addition to holding the Japan-South Africa Summit Meeting during the G7 Summit in June, Japan held bilateral Foreign Ministers' Meetings with South Africa at the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting in July and at the Japan-South Africa Partnership Forum, which was held in Tokyo in October for the first time in nine years, and discussed bilateral relations and the international situation. There were active high-level political exchanges in 2022, including Minister of Tourism Lindiwe Nonceba Sisulu's attendance at the state funeral for the late Prime Minister ABE Shinzo in September.

(9) Mozambique

Mozambique is a gateway to southeastern Africa and is a strategic point overlooking FOIP from the west. Political stability has been secured under President Filipe Nyusi, and development by foreign capital is progressing against the backdrop of abundant natural resources such as coal and natural gas. Japanese companies are also participating in a liquefied natural gas (LNG) development project in the northern part of the country, but the project has been suspended due to the deteriorating security situation caused by attacks by armed groups in the surrounding area, and Japan is cooperating with like-minded countries in order to resume the project. From 2023, Mozambique serves as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council together with Japan.

Bearing in mind the importance of the country's energy security, Japan has been providing humanitarian assistance such as food assistance for refugees and development assistance for the economic independence of local residents. In June, State Minister for Foreign Affairs ODAWARA Kiyoshi met with Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Verónica Nataniel Macamo Dlhovo, in New York during his visit.

(10) Lesotho

In Lesotho, a landlocked country composed of mostly mountainous highlands, trout aquaculture is conducted in the lake of the Katse Dam constructed by utilizing natural resources, providing a major export product to Japan. Lesotho held smooth and peaceful elections to the National Assembly in October, and the new prime minister, Mr. Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane, was inaugurated.

In relation to Japan, in addition to holding a foreign ministers' meeting on the occasion of TICAD 8 in August, Prime Minister Kishida held the Japan-Lesotho Summit Meeting with Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro, who attended the state funeral for the late Prime Minister ABE Shinzo in September, where the two leaders discussed further development of bilateral relations through the promotion of investment from Japan.