Japan's Support for the Consolidation of Peace in Africa

February 2006
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan

Since the Third Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in 2003, the "consolidation of peace" has been one of the three key policy pillars of Japan's assistance to Africa along with "human-centered development" and "poverty reduction through economic growth." Placing special emphasis on "ownership by Africa" and corresponding "partnership by the international community" as TICAD's basic principles, Japan has been making steady efforts to promote peace consolidation in Africa with concrete actions.

On the occasion of the TICAD Conference on Consolidation of Peace, the Government of Japan announces that it will extend assistance of approximately US$60 million in total [PDF] by the end of March this year to serve this purpose.

Basic Principles

(a) Respect for and Encouragement of Africa's Ownership

Successful state/nation-building in post-conflict countries would require ownership by both governments and local communities. Japan's assistance respects, encourages, and expect full manifestation of such ownership.

(b) Promotion of Partnership extended by the International Community

Effective response to complex problems and challenges arising in the context of post-conflict reconstruction and development would require coordination among the post-conflict country concerned and its development partners. Japan supports and contributes to the improvement of such coordination.

Actions to Date

(a) Japan's steady efforts for consolidating peace in Africa have resulted in the provision of more than US$350 million in assistance for that purpose from 2003 to 2005. This includes its "Flash Support in March 2005" of more than US$60 million aimed at consolidating peace in fourteen African countries, and its pledge in April 2005 of extending US$100 million for the near term to consolidate peace in Sudan, of which about 70% was disbursed or committed for specific projects before the end of that year.

(b) Around the same time (UN Fiscal Years 03/04 and 04/05), Japan contributed US$920 million to support UN peacekeeping operations in Africa. Moreover, Japan supported the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) by extending in-kind cooperation to support the activities of African troops participating in it, as well as by making a contribution in personnel.

(c) In the light of the recent decreasing trend of violent conflicts in Africa at large, which presents a great opportunity for consolidating peace in the continent, Japan announced at the G8 Gleneagles Summit in July 2005 that it would enhance its support for peace consolidation in Africa.

New Initiative

To follow through on its commitment announced at G8 Gleneagles Summit, Japan will take the following actions:

(a) Japan will actively extend financial as well as technical cooperation for consolidation of peace in Africa, with particular emphasis on three key regions of the continent where peace consolidation is currently at a critical stage, namely Sudan, the Great Lakes Region, and West Africa. Japan will support such programs and projects as disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants (DDR); reduction and control of small arms and light weapons (SALW); improvement of political governance; national reconciliation; resettlement and repatriation of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs); and community development focusing on human security (water, sanitation, education, etc.). As an immediate action under this initiative, Japan will extend assistance of approximately US$60 million in total by the end of March this year (see Annex 1 [PDF]). In implementing its assistance, Japan will continue to seek collaboration with the African Union (AU), Regional Economic Communities (RECs), international organizations, and NGOs working on the ground to address particular needs of local people and communities. Japan will promote the sharing of experiences in peace consolidation between Asia and Africa.

(b) Japan will play a comprehensive and active role in the activities of the UN Peacebuilding Commission, based on its experience in peace-building to date, with a view to promoting international cooperation and coordination in supporting consolidation of peace.

(c) Japan bears approximately 20% of the total cost of UN peacekeeping operations in Africa. Its contribution will exceed US$750 million for the UN Fiscal Year 05/06.

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