Japan: New deal, new strategy

Financial support of 30 billion dollars; advocacy for Africa to secure a permanent seat on the UN Security Council; more broadly, « close collaboration » for a « more resilient » Africa. In the power game currently being played on the continent, Japan, in light of the last TICAD, is putting its pawns back in the game…

By Bylkiss Mentari, in Tunis

While the international powers are competing on the continent, amid a feeling of déjà vu and the Cold War, Japan is serenely and strategically advancing its pawns on the continent. Better still, the Empire of the Rising Sun is redefining its strategy and repositioning its pawns. This is what emerged from the 8th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD8) held in Tunis on August 27 and 28.

The first edition of TICAD was held in 1993. It was launched, in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on Africa, and then with the World Bank since 2000, with the aim of promoting policy dialogue between African leaders, Japan and their partners in development. Nearly thirty years later, TICAD returns to the forefront of the African scene through this meeting organized for the second time in Africa, after the Kenya edition in 2016. With a vow: « close collaboration » with Africa, in order to promote a « more resilient » economy in the face of crises and epidemics and more « security. »

« A partner growing together with Africa to address its challenges »

And to walk the talk, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, speaking via live video due to COVID, announced a $30-billion financial support for African countries over the next three years. A commitment by the Japanese public and private sectors that « involves several areas, including green growth, health, education, human resources, agriculture and investment promotion, including for start-ups. With the objective of « being a partner growing together with Africa and addressing the challenges. As such, 82 projects for a value of 2.7 billion dollars were presented during the Summit, in the targeted sectors. 

In this context of food crisis caused by the Ukrainian-Russian conflict, Tokyo, plans to « assist Africa to double rice production on the continent in the medium to long term,” besides the $130 million of food aid already planned.

Financial cooperation with the AfDB of up to $5 billion

In addition, on the sidelines of the Summit, Japan and the African Development Bank (AfDB) agreed on financial cooperation of up to $5 billion under the fifth phase of the Enhanced Private Sector Assistance Initiative for Africa (EPSA 5) for the period 2023-2025. This funding will consist of $4 billion under the existing Window and up to an additional $1 billion under a new special Window to be established by Japan.

That partner will go so far as to take up the cause of Africa and « remedy a historical injustice » by advocating for Africa to secure a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.”

Thus, Japan is no longer playing the card of prudence and discretion. Traditionally more oriented towards investment than development aid in Africa, Japan is now standing out as an alternative to China, criticized by Tokyo during TICAD7 for its « debt trap » policy in Africa. The Empire of the Rising Sun is committed to a more inclusive partnership, led by Africans themselves and responding to the interests of Africans, with the objective of sustainable growth. Especially since, though « a series of contradictions of the global economy, such as inequality and environmental problems, are concentrated in Africa, a dynamic growth is expected, supported by a young population, » said the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Supporting this growth would therefore be profitable for Tokyo.

At least that is the idea. For if the Japanese enjoy a good perception on the continent, as it was shown by the latest surveys conducted by the CIAN barometer, it is, for the time being, only the 4th largest trading partner of sub-Saharan African countries, according to the Financial Times. 

With the $30 billion pledged at TICAD6, the 20 billion in 2019 at the end of TICAD7 and a Japanese aid to Africa that could increase by 40% for the next three years, according to the Japanese economic newspaper Nikkei, Japan wants to catch up in an Africa that more than ever fuels all desires…

Related : 

Captions:

Nearly 5,000 participants, including 30 African heads of state and government attended the 8th edition of TICAD held in Tunis on August 27 and 28_photo courtesy of TICAD-DR

Japan and the AfDB signed a financial cooperation agreement of up to 5 billion dollars – photo courtesy of AFDB-DR