African leaders along with their Japanese counterparts have pledged to tame the rising threat of terrorism, while emphasising the importance of maritime order, as they concluded an global conference on Sunday, Japan Today reports.
Advertisement
Earlier, Japanese Prime Minister Mr Shinzo Abe promised leaders of different African countries that his country would provide 10 billion United States dollars in a period of three years for infrastructural development in the continent with the African Development Bank (AfDB).
The agreements were concluded on the sidelines of the two-day summit of the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development, or TICAD VI, through Sunday.
“This is an investment that has faith in Africa’s future”.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Monday that Japan wanted to sell its own intentions to African countries and had attempted to sow discord between China and Africa.
As the curtains come down on the 6 Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICADVI) Kenya as well as 51 other African countries will be seeking to renew ties with Japan, the world’s third largest economy.
Coming at a time when aid fatigue had become apparent, the launch of TICAD was catalytic for refocusing worldwide attention on Africa’s development needs.
Speaking at the closing ceremony President Uhuru Kenyatta stressed on the importance of entrepreneurship as a key driver of economic growth, socio-economic transformation, job creation and social inclusion. He said Africa had a right to demand the global community better reflect its views, adding that Africa should send a permanent member to the Security Council by 2023 at the very latest.
During the meeting, Japan repeatedly mentioned the reform of the United Nations Security Council, as well as marine safety in the Indian and Pacific Ocean.
“This is basically to ward off the continuous aggression that the neighbouring nations are feeling from China”.
According to the SABC channel, Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno, incumbent president of the African Union (AU) asked for more resources to fight terrorism.
Advertisement
The two leaders discussed the situation in South Sudan and how the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) was navigating the peace process in trying to restore sustainable peace, a statement issued by the presidential strategic communications unit said.
