Chapter 2
Resilient and Unwavering Regional Diplomacy
Section 8 Africa
1 Overview
Africa, with a population of over 1.4 billion in 54 countries, has been attracting attention due to its young population, rich mineral resources, and relatively high economic growth rates. On the other hand, some African countries are in serious debt, and there are many challenges to the investment environment, such as a lack of transparency in the enforcement and operation of domestic laws. At the same time, there are regions where peace and stability are threatened by conflicts, terrorism, and political turmoil, including the armed seizure of power, and they still face development challenges including serious poverty.
Russia's aggression against Ukraine continues to affect the political and social situation in Africa. Africa is also actively involved in working toward a solution, for example, by sending a head-of-state peace mission to Ukraine. Africa's presence in the international community is also increasing. For example, Egypt and Ethiopia were admitted to the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) at the BRICS Summit hosted by South Africa in August, and the accession of the African Union (AU) to the G20 was decided at the G20 Summit in New Delhi in September.
In Sudan, the fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted in April, creating millions of refugees and displaced persons both inside and outside the country, resulting in a humanitarian crisis, which is also having an impact on the stability of neighboring countries that cannot be ignored. In West Africa, following Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso, a military seizure of power also occurred in Niger in July. Following the presidential election held in August in Gabon, a military seizure of power occurred, led by the military and security forces, who claim that the results of the election were fraudulent and invalid. Food insecurity is growing in the “Horn of Africa”1 region, where conflict and drought have caused a large number of refugees. In the Great Lakes region, particularly in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), armed groups such as the March 23 Movement (M23)2 have become more active, resulting in many internally displaced persons and refugees, and a worsening human rights and humanitarian situation. Meanwhile, the presidential elections held in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Liberia, and Comoros were generally peaceful.
The year 2023 saw a flurry of high-level visits between Japan and Africa. In March, Prime Minister Kishida met with President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço of Angolan during his visit to Japan. Moreover, from April 29 to May 4, Prime Minister Kishida visited Egypt, Ghana, Kenya and Mozambique, and held meetings with the leaders of each country (See Special Feature on page 180). In May, the Joint Mission for Promoting Trade and Investment to Africa headed by State Minister for Foreign Affairs YAMADA Kenji, visited Mozambique and Mauritius. From July 31 to August 3, Foreign Minister Hayashi visited South Africa, Uganda, and Ethiopia. On the occasion of international conferences, Foreign Minister Hayashi met with the leaders and foreign ministers of Madagascar and Niger in June, and Foreign Minister Kamikawa met with the foreign minister of Sierra Leone in September. In November, Foreign Minister Kamikawa met with Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Verónica Nataniel Macamo Dlhovo of Mozambique, who was visiting Japan. Furthermore, State Minister for Foreign Affairs HORII Iwao visited Senegal in November to attend the 9th Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa, and made courtesy calls and held talks with dignitaries from Senegal, Mauritania, and Guinea-Bissau.
Furthermore, Japan invited Comoros, the chair of the AU, to the G7 Hiroshima Summit in May, and in the Leaders' Joint Communiqué, the G7 leaders expressed their commitment to strengthen partnerships with African countries and to help Africa be better represented in multilateral forums.
In August, Japan organized a TICAD 30th Anniversary Event - TICAD's 30-Year History and Prospects - marking the 30th anniversary of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Tokyo. Prime Minister Kishida issued a video message, and about 400 participants, including Foreign Minister Hayashi, members of the Diet, African embassies in Japan, and private companies, engaged in lively discussions.
The TICAD Ministerial Meeting is scheduled to be held in Tokyo in 2024, and TICAD 9 in Yokohama in 2025. Through the TICAD process, based on the achievements that TICAD has built over the past 30 years, Japan will work together in a spirit of partnership toward the co-creation of solutions to the various challenges facing Africa. Japan will also strive to further strengthen relations with African countries through investment in people and other unique Japanese initiatives.
1 The “Horn of Africa” refers to the region on the northeastern part of the African continent that protrudes in the shape of a horn toward the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. It encompasses the countries of Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, and Kenya.
2 An armed group, which is against the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, made up of ethnic Tutsis that has been stepping up its activities in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
From April 29 to May 4, Prime Minister Kishida visited Egypt (North Africa), Ghana (West Africa), Kenya (East Africa), and Mozambique (Southern Africa). Prime Minister Kishida had three themes in mind during his visit to the African countries. The first was to serve as a bridge between the developing and emerging countries, known as the “Global South,” and the G7; the second was to promote Japan's commitment as “a partner growing together with Africa,” as expressed at the Eighth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 8) in August 2022; and the third was to confirm Japan's close cooperation for the stabilization of Sudan.
Prime Minister Kishida visiting the Grand Egyptian Museum (April 30, Cairo, Egypt; Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)
In Egypt, Prime Minister Kishida held a Summit Meeting with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, and the two leaders agreed to deepen bilateral relations by elevating Japan-Egypt relations to a “Strategic Partnership.” Prime Minister Kishida also attended the Japan-Egypt Business Forum to encourage Japanese companies to expand their business activities into Egypt. He also visited the League of Arab States headquarters, the first visit by a Japanese Prime Minister, and affirmed that Japan and the Arab world will deepen cooperation to maintain and strengthen the international order based on the rule of law.
In Ghana, Prime Minister Kishida held a Summit Meeting with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Prime Minister Kishida asserted that no unilateral change of the status quo by force is tolerated in any region in the world, and the two leaders shared the view on the importance of free and open international order based on the rule of law. In addition, the two leaders reaffirmed the enhancement of bilateral relations through efforts in the health sector and in the international arena. Prime Minister Kishida also expressed his commitment to provide approximately 500 million U.S. dollars over the next three years to contribute to peace and stability and promote sustainable growth in the Sahel region and the neighboring coastal countries of the Gulf of Guinea.
Prime Minister Kishida visiting the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (May 1, Accra, Ghana; Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)
Japan-Kenya Summit Meeting (May 3, Nairobi, Kenya; Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)
Japan-Mozambique Summit Meeting (May 4, Maputo, Mozambique; Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)
He also visited the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, which Japan has supported for many years.
In Kenya, Prime Minister Kishida held a Summit Meeting with President William Samoei Ruto, who has shown active leadership both in terms of regional peace and stability and in the international arena. The two leaders shared the view to cooperate toward stabilizing the situation in Sudan, and, with Russia's aggression in Ukraine in mind, to work together for the promotion of the rule of law. They also confirmed cooperation in various infrastructure project plans in Mombasa, a logistics hub in East Africa, under the new plan for a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).”
In Mozambique, Prime Minister Kishida held a Summit Meeting with President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi in which the two leaders shared the view to push for the early resumption of Africa's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) development project. The two leaders also affirmed that they would cooperate to encourage the realization of tangible business results by taking advantage of the Public and Private Sector Joint Mission for Promoting Trade and Investment in Africa that was dispatched in conjunction with the visit. President Nyusi expressed his hope that Japan, as the G7 Presidency, would address various issues in Africa through collaboration between the G7 and the African Union (AU).
During Prime Minister Kishida's visit to these four countries, which are major economic centers in Africa, Japan was able to further strengthen bilateral relations with each country while holding a series of substantive discussions based on the three themes.
2023 marks 30 years since TICAD was established under the leadership of the Government of Japan. Based on the achievements accumulated to date, the TICAD Ministerial Meeting is scheduled to be held in Tokyo in 2024, and TICAD 9 in Yokohama in 2025. Taking advantage of these opportunities, Japan will continue to work together with Africa on various issues from the same perspective.