Japan and African nations have signed 300 agreements spanning key development sectors at the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), marking a significant expansion of ties between the two regions.
The summit, held this week in Tokyo, brought together African leaders and Japanese counterparts to chart new avenues of cooperation. The deals — three times the number agreed at the previous gathering in Tunisia in 2022 — cover infrastructure, healthcare, technology, education and agriculture.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa used Thursday’s session to call for a “reimagined” relationship between Africa and Japan. He stressed that the continent seeks partnership rather than aid, insisting on “shared prosperity rather than handouts”.
Nigeria’s delegation, meanwhile, pressed its case for greater African representation at global institutions, including permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council and the International Court of Justice.
According to officials, the agreements include:
- Major infrastructure projects to strengthen trade and connectivity.
- Investments in healthcare, from new hospitals to supply chains and training.
- Technology and digital innovation, with Japanese firms pledging to back Africa’s fast-growing tech sector.
- Education initiatives, including scholarships, vocational training and academic exchanges.
- Agricultural programmes to modernise farming and bolster food security.
Angolan President João Lourenço, Chair of the African Union, joined Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishida at the signing ceremony, which both sides hailed as a “landmark moment” in deepening ties.
The wave of agreements underscores Japan’s growing interest in Africa, at a time when global powers are competing to strengthen links with a continent rich in natural resources and home to the world’s fastest-growing youth population.
