Press Releases
Working Lunch between Foreign Minister Kamikawa and Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, Executive Secretary, Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
June 12, 2024
On June 12, commencing at 12:45 p.m., Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a working lunch with Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, Executive Secretary, Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), for approximately 70 minutes. The overview is as follows.
- At the outset, referring to her recent visit to Africa, Minister Kamikawa expressed Japan’s intention that Japan would co-create measures with Africa to realize economic growth, peace, and stability on the continent. In addition, Minister Kamikawa highly appreciated IGAD’s contribution to peace and stability in the Horn of Africa. Emphasizing the historical significance of the meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan and IGAD, Executive Secretary Workneh pointed out the challenges of the Horn of Africa and the importance of IGAD and explained IGAD’s efforts.
- Minister Kamikawa also introduced Japan’s efforts as part of its bilateral cooperation in the region and expressed its intention to continue to work with IGAD to realize peace and stability in the Horn of Africa, while prioritizing Africa’s commitment to finding its own solutions to the issues facing Africa. Executive Secretary Workneh expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the efforts of the Government of Japan to date and stated that he would like to continue to work closely with Japan while mentioning the need for support from Japan.
- Executive Secretary Workneh highly appreciated Minister Kamikawa’s efforts in the area of Women, Peace and Security (WPS). In response, Minister Kamikawa highly appeciated the participation of approximately 180 women in the meeting of Sudanese civilian actors, held in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in May through Japanese assistance for IGAD, from the perspective of WPS which seeks to reflect in decision-making the voice of women as subjects of protection from harm in situations of conflict as well as main actors of peace and security. The two sides confirmed the importance of such efforts and concurred on building them up to contribute to peace and stability in Africa.
- The two sides confirmed their continued cooperation for achieving peace and stability in the Horn of Africa, bearing in mind Japan’s hosting of the TICAD Ministerial Meeting in August of this year and TICAD 9 in August of next year.