By Amin Kef (Ranger)
The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Tuesday August 20, 2024 held a virtual Press Briefing to outline the upcoming Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) Ministerial Meeting, set to take place on August 24 and 25, 2024, in Tokyo. The briefing included discussions on preparations for TICAD 9, which was scheduled for August 20-22, 2025, in Yokohama.
Toshihiko Horiuchi, Director General of the African Affairs Division and Secretary-General of the Secretariat for TICAD at the Japanese MOFA detailed the objectives of the Ministerial Meeting. He announced that the Japanese Foreign Minister, Yoko Kamikawa, will engage in bilateral meetings with African Ministers to enhance Japan-Africa relations. The meeting will also feature thematic events focused on youth, education and health.
The TICAD Ministerial Meeting will see participation from delegations including Foreign Ministers from African nations, representatives of international and regional organizations and members of the private sector and Civil Society. Co-organizers of the event include the Government of Japan, the United Nations, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank and the African Union Commission (AUC).
Thematic events during the Ministerial Meeting will cover a range of topics, such as a model of the African Union presented by university students, youth proposals, a panel discussion on innovation in Africa, and several health-related discussions. These will include explorations of Japanese innovations in achieving Universal Health Coverage and global health financing.
Mr. Horiuchi also addressed ongoing concerns about the participation of Polisario Front members in TICAD. He acknowledged that while Japan is deliberating on this issue, Japan does not currently have diplomatic relations with Western Sahara. “We are working towards taking the appropriate decision,” Horiuchi said, adding that Japan aims to handle the situation with due consideration.
The virtual briefing concluded with a Q &A session where journalists and participants discussed various aspects of the upcoming Ministerial Meeting.
