The 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) officially opened on Wednesday in Yokohama.
The conference brings together African leaders, international partners, and Japanese officials to strengthen cooperation and accelerate the implementation of Africa’s development priorities.
The opening ceremony featured speeches from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and João Lourenço, President of Angola and current Chairperson of the African Union (AU). President Lourenço praised TICAD, which was launched in 1993, as a vital platform for dialogue and cooperation. He held up Japan as a powerful example of an economy that has overcome adversity, serving as an inspiration for African nations.
President Lourenço stressed the urgent need to accelerate the implementation of Africa’s development programs, particularly after delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He urged the continent to focus on key priorities, including health, education, food security, energy infrastructure, and digitalization. These efforts should align with the AU’s Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals.
On the international stage, President Lourenço reaffirmed the AU’s commitment to multilateralism and warned against the risks of “the return of protectionism and geopolitical tensions.” He called for a reform of the UN Security Council and for more equitable financing mechanisms that would allow African countries to access low-cost resources for their industrialization and modernization projects.
Regarding security, the Angolan president reiterated the AU’s commitment to “silencing the guns in Africa,” specifically mentioning the ongoing peace processes in the eastern DRC and Sudan. He also condemned the war in Ukraine and called for a negotiated solution, while also denouncing “the genocide of the Palestinian people” in the Gaza Strip.
TICAD 9, which is co-chaired by Japan and the AU, is expected to conclude on Friday with a final declaration outlining common priorities for Africa’s economic and social development.
AC/Sf/fss/abj/APA