Chapter 2
Resilient and Unwavering Regional Diplomacy
5 West Africa
(1) Ghana
The Akufo-Addo administration, which was launched in 2017 and re-elected for a second term from 2021, has adopted the concept of Ghana Beyond Aid and is working to promote investment and diversify industries. In addition, the country continues to focus on rebuilding the domestic economy, including the debt situation. In May, Prime Minister Kishida visited Ghana, becoming the first Japanese prime minister in 17 years to do so, and held a summit meeting with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and visited the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, which Japan has supported for many years through ODA. The institute plays an important role in the fight against infectious diseases in the region. In February, Foreign Minister Hayashi held talks with Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong.
Joint press conference following the Japan-Ghana Summit Meeting (May 1, Accra, Ghana; Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)
(2) Cabo Verde
Cabo Verde has a well-established democracy with high political stability among African countries. In January, Foreign Minister Hayashi met with Minister for Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Regional Integration Rui Alberto de Figueiredo Soares in New York, U.S., and the two shared the view to strengthen bilateral cooperation. Furthermore, Japan implements economic development cooperation with the country, including exchanging notes regarding grant aid for food aid in September.
Japan-Cabo Verde Foreign Ministers' Meeting (January 12, New York, U.S.)
(3) The Gambia
Since President Adama Barrow took office in 2017, the Gambia has been promoting reforms based on fundamental values and principles, such as democracy and the rule of law. However, it faces social issues such as a fragile economic structure dependent on agriculture and serious poverty. Japan is contributing to the stabilization of the country through food aid.
(4) Guinea
In Guinea, after the military takeover by a group of Guinean army soldiers in September 2021, a transitional government (led by interim President Mamadi Doumbouya) was established, and the transition to civilian rule is underway with a completion deadline of the end of 2024.
Guinea has abundant water resources and fertile land, has high development potential for agriculture and fisheries, and is a major producer of bauxite and iron.
Japan has built friendly relations with Guinea over the years and provides assistance to the country in areas such as food security, development of economic infrastructure, and improvement of basic social services to promote sustainable development.
(5) Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau aims to overcome poverty and political instability by taking advantage of its fertile lands, blessed with fishery and mineral resources. In June, Guinea-Bissau held peaceful elections for its National People's Assembly and inaugurated a new prime minister, Geraldo Martins. Japan continues to provide assistance to Guinea-Bissau, including in the form of institution-building, to strengthen the rule of law and democratic governance. At the Dakar International Forum on Peace and Stability in Africa held in Senegal in November, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Horii paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Martins and the two countries shared the view to further strengthen relations.
(6) Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire is working to promote and strengthen its agricultural production system under its National Development Plan. To support this, Japan exchanged notes in April regarding two grant aid projects for the Economic and Social Development Programme worth a total of 1.15 billion Japanese yen, which will involve the provision of agricultural engineering equipment and fertilizer. In June, Japan exchanged notes regarding grant aid for the Project for the Improvement of Mechanized Services in the Rice Cultivation Sector. Furthermore, in response to the lack of public services and the increasing influx of refugees in the northern region, Japan exchanged notes with Côte d'Ivoire in October regarding the Local Government Social Infrastructure Improvement Plan in the Northern Region (in cooperation with UNDP). In February, Chief Executive Officer of the Investment Promotion Center Solange Amichia visited Japan and met with Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Takagi, where they discussed promoting investment by Japanese companies in Côte d'Ivoire, and shared the view to continue active discussions through the Bilateral Committee on the Improvement of the Business Environment and other means.
(7) Sierra Leone
In Sierra Leone, presidential elections were held in June, and President Julius Maada Bio was re-elected for a second term. The Bio administration is focused on building a stable, peaceful, open and pluralistic democracy, and continues to work on priority areas such as food security, human resources development, youth support, and technology promotion. Japan implements development cooperation with the country in areas such as health, human resources development, agriculture, and basic infrastructure development. In September, Foreign Minister Kamikawa held a foreign ministers' meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Timothy Musa Kabba in New York, U.S., and confirmed cooperation in the international arena.
Foreign Minister Kamikawa meets with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Kabba of Sierra Leone (September 19, New York, U.S.)
(8) Senegal
As the stabilizing force in Western Africa, President Macky Sall has been actively working toward peace and stability in Africa, participating in the Ukrainian peace mission to Ukraine and Russia in June, and hosting the 9th Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa in November. On the domestic political front, President Sall announced his intention not to run in the next presidential election scheduled for February 2024, in accordance with the provisions of the constitution, once again demonstrating to the international community that Senegal is a country where government is administered according to the constitution and democracy is firmly established.
At the Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa in November, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Horii introduced Japan's efforts to promote peace and stability in Africa and underlined that Japan would think together with Africa and work as a partner to co-create better solutions, given the increasing role of African countries in the international community. He also paid a courtesy call on President Sall and met with Foreign Minister Ismaïla Madior Fall and affirmed that they would work together to further strengthen bilateral cooperation and Japan-Africa relations, as well as to strengthen cooperation in the international arena.
(9) Togo
In April, in order to improve food security and resolve development issues in Togo, Japan exchanged notes regarding the grant aid Economic and Social Development Programme, which provides fertilizer, the price of which has risen sharply due to Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Japan and Togo also exchanged notes in September regarding food aid. Furthermore, in order to support Togo in its efforts to become a regional logistics hub by developing logistics corridors, Japan exchanged notes with Togo in November regarding the grant aid Project for Construction of Bypass Road at Sokodé.
(10) Nigeria
The presidential election in February resulted in the election of Bola Tinubu from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the first change in presidents in eight years. Japanese House of Representatives member TANAKA Kazunori, as Special Envoy of the Prime Minister, attended the presidential inauguration ceremony in May. The new president's basic policies include governance based on the constitution and the rule of law, security measures, eradicating poverty, job creation, improved access to capital, and fighting corruption. Of note, soon after taking office he embarked on economic reforms, including the abolition of fuel subsidies that had been putting pressure on the country's finances for many years.
In terms of security, terrorist attacks and raids by groups such as Boko Haram continue, particularly in the northeast. Japan is carrying out economic and social development assistance, as well as humanitarian assistance through international organizations.
(11) Niger
Niger is facing the growing threat of terrorism primarily on its borders with Mali and Burkina Faso, and was making sustained efforts to counter terrorism and overcome development challenges in cooperation with the international community, under the leadership of President Mohamed Bazoum. However, in July, the detention of President Bazoum by members of Niger's Armed Forces army soldiers occurred. Japan strongly condemned the action by the soldiers, and a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson issued a statement calling for the safety of President Bazoum and for the constitutional order to be upheld. Japan will continue to support diplomatic efforts by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the AU, among others, to ensure the safety of President Bazoum and the early restoration of constitutional order.
(12) Burkina Faso
Following the seizure of power by members of Burkina Faso's Armed Forces in January and September 2022, a transitional government, led by President of the Transition Ibrahim Traoré, was established and is working toward the transition to a civilian government. The security situation in Burkina Faso is seriously deteriorating, with frequent terrorist attacks and raids mainly in the border areas with Mali and Niger in the north, and a large number of internally displaced persons have been reported. Ensuring peace and stability in Burkina Faso, which is the linchpin for peace and stability in the Sahel region and the countries along the Gulf of Guinea, has become an urgent issue.
To contribute to the improvement of the humanitarian situation, Japan exchanged notes with Burkina Faso, regarding grant assistance for food aid in October and is providing food aid with Japanese government rice to improve food security in the country and is also promoting cooperation regarding assistance for internally displaced persons.
(13) Benin
Considering the urgent need to strengthen security measures in northern Benin due to the southward movement of terrorist organizations resulting from instability in the Sahel region, Japan exchanged notes in October regarding grant aid for the Economic and Social Development Programme and decided to provide anti-terrorism and security equipment. Romuald Wadagni, Minister of Economy and Finance, visited Japan in June and met with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Yamada, during which the two countries shared the view to further develop bilateral relations and to work toward peace and stability in the Sahel region and the countries along the Gulf of Guinea.
(14) Mali
Following the seizure of power by Malian army soldiers in August 2020 and May 2021, a transitional government, led by President of the Transition Assimi Goïta, was established and is working toward the transition to civilian rule. The security and humanitarian situation have deeply deteriorated, with frequent terrorist attacks, raids, and clashes occurring mainly in the north and east of the country. In June, in response to a request for withdrawal from the Mali transitional government, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution to withdraw the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). Ensuring peace and stability in Mali, which is the linchpin for peace and stability in the Sahel region and the countries along the Gulf of Guinea, has become an urgent issue.
Japan supports peace, stability, and sustainable growth in Mali. In October, Japan exchanged notes on the grant assistance for The Project for the Promotion of Education for Children Based on the ‘School for All' Model in Vulnerable Areas (in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)) and is working with UNICEF to promote primary education enrollment and improvement of the learning environment in Mali.
(15) Liberia
President George Tawlon Manneh Oppong Weah is focusing on reducing poverty in Liberia, following the civil war that broke out in 1989 and the Ebola hemorrhagic fever that spread from neighboring countries in 2014, causing enormous humanitarian damage in Liberia. Infrastructure, education, and health are also priorities, and Japan is supporting the country's sustainable growth through assistance for the expansion and upgrade of the main road (Japan Freeway) in the capital Monrovia and food aid. The first round of the presidential election was held in October, and a runoff election was held in November, in which the former vice-president candidate, Joseph Nyumah Boakai, was elected.
(16) Mauritania
While being located in the Sahel region, where politics and security are becoming increasingly unstable, there have been no terrorist attacks since 2011 in Mauritania, and its government continues to be relatively stable. However, food shortages are becoming severe due to factors such as the global situation and the increase in the influx of refugees caused by the worsening security situation in neighboring countries. Japan continues to provide assistance, including food aid. In addition to its long-standing cooperation in the fisheries sector, Japan is also supporting the country's development through cooperation in the agricultural sector.