TICAD 9 in Yokohama: Japan and Africa Strengthen Peace, Trade

The Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), initiated by the Japanese Government in 1993, opened in Yokohama from August 20 to 22, 2025. The event is co-chaired by the African Union under the leadership of Angolan President João Lourenço.

High-Level African Participation

• Representatives from around 50 African nations are attending, including:

• Nigerian President Bola Tinubu

• South African President Cyril Ramaphosa

• Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye

• Kenyan President William Ruto

• UN Secretary-General António Guterres

Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal are represented by foreign ministers. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is represented by a strong interministerial delegation led by Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka, accompanied by:

• Daniel Mukoko Samba, Deputy PM & Minister of National Economy

• Marc Ekila Likombio, Minister of State for Vocational Training

• Julien Paluku Kahongya, Minister of Foreign Trade

• Lous Kabamba Watum, Minister of Mines

• Noëlla Ayenganagato Nakwipone, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs

  
  

Their presence underscores Congo’s determination to highlight strategic sectors, economy, training, trade, mining, and diplomacy as priorities within TICAD.

Focus on Peace, Stability, and Prosperity

During the first plenary session on “Peace and Stability”, the DRC reaffirmed its commitment to deepen diplomatic and military cooperation with Japan. This follows several high-level visits and agreements earlier this year to revitalize bilateral ties.

Japan, by putting peace and stability at the core of TICAD 9, also reaffirms its long-term vision for a stable, prosperous, and peaceful Africa.

Debt, Trade, and Global Partnerships

The conference comes at a time when many African nations face a debt and liquidity crisis, largely due to borrowing from China and private creditors. Reduced Western aid, worsened by the dismantling of USAID under former U.S. President Donald Trump, has further strained budgets.

President Ramaphosa warned that this crisis is limiting governments’ ability to provide safety nets for citizens.

Discussions in Yokohama are expected to address:

• Possible free trade agreements between Japan and Africa

• Loan guarantees and investment incentives for Japanese companies

• New frameworks for sustainable financing

Japan’s Prime Minister emphasized a partnership based on trust, stating:

“Rather than focusing on our own needs, we want to carefully identify the needs of our partners and earn their trust.”

Investment in People and Technology

Africa’s youthful population and abundant resources were highlighted as key opportunities. Japan pledged to train 30,000 artificial intelligence experts over the next three years to accelerate digital transformation in African industries.

Business leaders, including the Keidanren (Japan Business Federation), stressed that Japan must position itself as a trustworthy partner by actively contributing to solving Africa’s social and economic challenges.