In preparation for the upcoming Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) 9 Summit, scheduled to be held in Yokohama, Japan, in 2025, the Government of Japan, in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC), the United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (UNOSSA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the World Bank, convened a Ministerial Meeting from August 24-25, 2024, under the theme "Co-create Innovative Solutions with Africa."

As a crucial step in the lead-up to the Ministerial Meeting, the African Diplomatic Corps in Tokyo, met with the members of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) based in Addis Ababa, along with the AU Commission, to align and harmonize Africa's position on the TICAD outcome document. This preparatory dialogue was followed by a Joint Senior Officials Meeting, where the TICAD Co-organizers mainly reviewed the progress made since the last TICAD 8 Summit held in 2022, in Tunis, Tunisia, and considered new priority areas of cooperation.

The TICAD Ministerial Meeting served as a valuable platform for exchanging ideas, building partnerships, and charting a course for a more prosperous and sustainable Africa. The discussions and outcomes of the meeting will inform the agenda and priorities for TICAD 9, ensuring that the conference delivers tangible results for the continent's sustainable development, as encapsulated in the AU Agenda 2063.

In her opening remarks, H.E. Yoko Kamikawa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, emphasized the importance of a robust partnership between Japan and Africa, grounded in mutual respect and shared goals. She highlighted Japan's unwavering determination to continue working with Africa for a brighter future and urged the Japanese private sector to invest more in the continent.

H.E. Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, reaffirmed the AU's commitment to the TICAD process. "Our aspiration is to forge a more robust partnership with Japan, characterized by enhanced dialogue, streamlined coordination, and increased support for AU initiatives," she stated. "This will empower us to transform our political dialogue into focused and tangible actions, effectively addressing Africa's needs in alignment with the African Union Agenda 2063 and its Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan."

H.E. Mohamed Salem Ould MERZOUG, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and Mauritanians Abroad of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, and Chairperson of the African Union Executive Council, underscored the importance of collaboration between Africa and Japan to achieve the continent's aspirations as outlined in Agenda 2063. "Our collective achievements here today are a step towards fulfilling the expectations of our people, who aspire to better livelihoods and prosperity," he stated. "I encourage all parties involved in the TICAD process to continue their efforts to co-create a better and more prosperous world, especially for African countries."

The two-day Ministerial Meeting centered around key priority areas, including society, peace and stability, and economy. Participants discussed strategies to promote health, education, and environmental sustainability; strengthen governance and security, and foster economic growth through investment and trade.

The meeting also featured side events, which focused on innovation in Africa, youth engagement, and health equity. These discussions highlighted the potential of innovation to drive sustainable development, the importance of youth participation in shaping Africa's future, and the need for increased investment in health and healthcare systems.

The high-level AU delegation, including H.E. Ambassador Albert Muchanga, African Union Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals; H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; H.E. Minata Samate Cessouma, African Union Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development; H.E. Alex Ratebaye, Deputy Chief of Staff in the Bureau of the AUC Chairperson; and Mr. Steve Patrick Lalande, Director for Partnerships Management and Resource Mobilization, actively participated in the thematic events aligned with the three TICAD pillars, contributing valuable insights to the dialogue on the progress the continent has made in these areas.

The other Co-organizers represented by Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, UNDP's Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa, Mr. Andrew Dabalen, World Bank's Africa Region Chief Economist, and Mr. Jean-Paul Adam, Director of Policy, Monitoring and Advocacy at UNOSSA, highlighted the importance of aligning TICAD goals with the African Union development priorities.

The TICAD Ministerial Meeting concluded with the adoption of the Joint Communiqué, reaffirming the strong partnership between the African Union and Japan. And further outlines a shared vision for a more prosperous and sustainable Africa, guiding the agenda and priorities of the upcoming TICAD 9 Summit in 2025 with the aim to deliver tangible results to support Africa's sustainable development.

About TICAD - This year's TICAD marks a milestone in the African Union’s cooperation with Japan, coming 31 years after the inaugural TICAD, which was organized in Tokyo in 1993, with the aim of establishing a new partnership for sustainable African development, grounded in the self-reliance of African countries and the supportive role of development partners, to ensure the co-creation of a better and prosperous world for all, especially for African countries.

About AU partnerships- The Directorate manages and coordinates the African Union's partnerships with other global entities. It focuses on addressing African needs and aligning partnerships with Agenda 2063. The Directorate collaborates with other AU departments to advance priority programs and projects and identifies areas for cooperation with strategic partners.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Ms Faith Adhiambo | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | E-mail: ochiengj@african-union.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,