At the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced sweeping plans to deepen Africa’s economic partnerships, including the creation of an “Indian Ocean–Africa Economic Zone.” The proposed framework aims to connect African nations with major economies across the Indian Ocean, including India and the Middle East.
Japan also pledged $5.5 billion in loans through the African Development Bank to promote sustainable development and ease the mounting debt burden on African countries. In a bid to accelerate digital transformation, Tokyo will launch a programme to train 30,000 artificial intelligence specialists within three years, expanding innovation and employment opportunities across the continent.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, in his remarks, urged urgent reforms to global governance structures:
“Africa must have a stronger voice in shaping the decisions that affect its future. That includes long overdue reform of the Security Council, where, incredibly, Africa has no permanent member… and an overhaul of today’s unjust and unfair international financial architecture.”
African Union Chair and Angolan President João Lourenço echoed the concern, highlighting barriers to affordable financing:
“Many African countries are rated as high-risk borrowers, making them barely eligible for low-cost capital. Yet such capital is absolutely essential for investment in infrastructure, electrification, industrialization, and technological advancement.”
TICAD 9, attended by delegates from nearly 50 African nations and international organisations, underscores Japan’s bid to reassert its influence in Africa amid waning U.S. engagement and China’s growing presence. The summit focuses on cooperation in economy, peace, health, education, and climate, and is expected to conclude with the adoption of the Yokohama Declaration later this week.
