-TICAD 30TH ANNIVERSARY EVENTTICAD'S 30-YEAR HISTORY AND PROSPECTS
STATEMENT AT PANEL-130 YEARS’ HISTORY OF TICAD
AUGUST 26, 2023
H.E. MR. ESTIFANOS AFEWORKIAMBASSADOR OF THE STATE OF ERITREA AND
DEAN OF THE AFRICAN DIPLOMATIC CORPSTOKYO
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CONTENTS:¡ 1. A glimpse of past 30 years¡ 2. Prevailing geo-political wind vs foreign policy of Japan¡ 3. Prospects for Africa – Japan cooperation

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1. A GLIMPSE OF PAST 30 YEARS¡ At the end of the Cold War period, the TICAD process of cooperation

was introduced in the then global prevailing situation mainly to influence
the UN Reform. The US, EU, Russia, China, India, Turkey, and otherinitiatives from Asian and American countries targeting Africa also
followed suit.
¡ In brief: the different initiatives that targeted Africa in the last 30 years

are many and multifaceted in nature. I will briefly highlight the major
ones here in the interest of time.
41. A GLIMPSE OF PAST 30 YEARS¡ The US – Africa Leaders Summit: was held two times. In 2014, it wasattended by 43 African countries, and in 2022: was attended by 45 heads of states anda financial pledge of 55 billion USD was made.
¡ The Africa-Europe Summit : was held six times. In 2000, it was attended by 40African countries, and in 2022 – was attended by 40 heads of states and a financial
pledge of 168 billion USD was made.
¡ The Russia – Africa Summit: was held two times. In 2019, it was attended by54 African countries, and 45 heads of states and a financial pledge of 12.5 billion USD
was made. In 2023- was also attended by 49 African countries, and 17 heads of states
and a pledge to wipe out debts worth 23 billion USD by African countries, plus,
assistance of Russian wheat supply were made.
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1. A GLIMPSE OF PAST 30 YEARS¡ The Turkey – Africa Partnership Summit: was held three times, and in 2008: it

was attended by 39 African countries, and in 2021: was attended by 16 Heads ofStates of African countries and no financial pledge was not announced.
¡ The India – Africa Forum Summit: was held three times and in 2008: it wasattended by 45 African countries, and in 2015: was attended by 41 heads of states ofAfrican countries and a pledge of 10 billion USD was made.
¡ The Forum on China – Africa Cooperation: was held eight times, and in 2000: itwas attended by 53 countries, and in 2021: was attended by 8 Heads of States ofAfrica and a financial pledge of 40 billion USD was made.
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1. A GLIMPSE OF PAST 30 YEARS¡ Tokyo International Cooperation for Development (TICAD): was held 8times, and in 1993: it was attended by 48 countries of Africa, and in 2022: wasattended by 48 countries including 20 Head of States of Africa and a financial pledgeof 30 billion USD plus a supply pledge of Ukrainian wheat were made.

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2. PREVAILING GEO-POLITICAL WINDVS FOREIGN POLICY OF JAPAN¡ It is history now that the first half of the 1990s saw a remarkable change

in the paradigm of relations globally. In the initial euphoria regardingthese events there was much hope. But as event continued to unfold, if
anything has happened, it was the return of the past history of the Cold
War with a vengeance.
¡ A win-win analogy was amplified, by many politicians and politicalscientists, in a big projection in all corners of the world after the fall ofthe Berlin wall, but if anything has happened in Africa, it is not congruent
to what was promised in the New World Order.
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2. PREVAILING GEO-POLITICAL WINDVS FOREIGN POLICY OF JAPAN¡ For many who had monitored and followed events in the Africa
continent closely - cross cutting issues like diverse range of actors withapparently irreconcilable differences over the protection and attainmentof their military, security, material and political interests have increased
dramatically. Unfortunately, as a result, the long history of the scramble
for Africa is getting more and more pronounced and complex in the last
30 years.
¡ New economic giants such as Brazil, Russia, India, and South Africa

remained in a steady development track and have become global
economic forces to recon with globally as well. Their economic andsocial impact on the continent of Africa is not to be underestimated too.

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2. PREVAILING GEO-POLITICAL WINDVS FOREIGN POLICY OF JAPANn Multi-pronged foreign policy of Japan was also very prevalent during thisimportant period of history clearly being reflected in G8 and later afterRussia left on G7, the ASEAN, China, the fight against terrorism, nuclear
energy, Middle East Oil, Japan – US Alliance, Maritime issues, North Korea,India, Republic of South Korea, Central Asia, UN Peace Keeping, Djibouti
Military Base, Trans Pacific Trade Partnerships, and Free and Open IndoPacific, and the current war in Ukraine which had their wider policy
ramifications on the continent of Africa as well.
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3. PROSPECTS FOR AFRICA – JAPAN COOPERATIONn The prospects for Africa – Japan cooperation through the TICAD process aremany. The current co-organizers’ of the TICAD process, which include anddoesn’t exclude the African Union, strategic planning, strategic management
system, implementation coordination's with transparent access procedures tothe availed pledges are of paramount importance - especially on the following
key areas of cooperation with the regional economic organizations of Africa
and individual African countries:
1. UN Reform
2. Agriculture, fisheries, and marine resources
3. Industrialization
4. Minerals and hydrocarbon resources
5. Tourism
6. Infrastructure
7. Transportations, and
8. Social services

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3. PROSPECTS FOR AFRICA – JAPAN COOPERATIONn In 2014, Japan stood 7th in trade, 5th in ODA and 10th in FDI in theAfrican continent. Japan has also been a key catalyst in the creation of
the Asian tigers in the last sixty years as well as in the BRICS countries in
the last thirty years.

123. PROSPECTS FOR AFRICA – JAPAN COOPERATIONn In conclusion, allow me to stress in this important meeting that Japan

should desist carrot and stick European colonialists’ diplomacy andcoercion in the African continent and stick to the principles of theongoimg TICAD process to promote genuine partnerships throughAfrica’s Development Agenda 2063 which includes African countries
national development plans and aspirations of equality, freedom, dignity
and economic emancipation.
n The key to a sustainable future success of TICAD is pegged on acommitment of a fair play on a genuine cooperation for peace plus a
prudent resource and energy diplomacy between Africa and Japan - away
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from the old legacy of European colonialism and history of slavery.

Thank you!
Peace Shall Prevail in Africa!
SKY IS THE LIMITFORAFRICA JAPAN COOPERATION14