Addis Ababa, August 24, 2025 (FMC) — African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson Mahamoud Ali Youssouf concluded a successful participation at the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), held in Yokohama, Japan, from August 20–22, 2025, advancing Africa’s vision for stronger partnerships with Japan.
Youssouf reaffirmed Africa’s strategic commitment to a dynamic, mutually beneficial relationship with Japan, describing TICAD as a cornerstone for shared prosperity, peace, and sustainable development. Delivering a keynote address at the opening ceremony, he emphasized the need for co-created solutions aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and TICAD9’s themes of peace, growth, and inclusivity.
He identified the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a “catalyst of energy, opportunity, and investment,” calling for greater mobilization of private capital, acceleration of digital transformation, and expansion of infrastructure and innovation ecosystems.
During the summit, the AUC Chairperson held high-level talks with Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, commending Japan’s long-standing partnership with Africa. Prime Minister Ishiba reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to Africa’s strategic priorities, particularly in light of the AU’s recent accession to the G20. Both sides pledged to deepen cooperation in trade, technology, and policy dialogue under the TICAD framework.
In discussions with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) President Akihiko Tanaka, Youssouf explored enhanced collaboration in peace and security, infrastructure, innovation, and human capital development, stressing the importance of leveraging Japan’s technical expertise for Africa’s transformation. He also met with International Finance Corporation (IFC) Managing Director Muktar Diop, focusing on the role of private capital in driving Africa’s development. Their talks highlighted investment opportunities in infrastructure, agriculture, green transition, and digital innovation, with both institutions agreeing to intensify AU–IFC collaboration to scale up financing for African entrepreneurs.
AU Commissioners and senior officials also took part in key side events, showcasing Africa’s priorities in food systems transformation, climate resilience, energy access, youth empowerment, peace and security, and digital inclusion. These interventions underscored Africa’s ambition to drive continental transformation while contributing solutions to global challenges.
Youssouf welcomed the adoption of the Yokohama Declaration, which reaffirms Africa–Japan cooperation in infrastructure, trade, digital transformation, agriculture, peace and security, and technology transfer. He said the Declaration reflects the spirit of TICAD — mutual respect, practical collaboration, and shared responsibility in shaping a more equitable global order.
In closing, Youssouf recalled his personal participation in every TICAD since its inception, positioning himself as a custodian of this long-standing partnership. He stressed that TICAD’s legacy is built on trust and consistency and expressed confidence that TICAD9 has opened a new chapter of pragmatic cooperation between Africa and Japan.
The AUC Chairperson reaffirmed the Union’s determination to advance Africa’s Agenda 2063 through stronger partnerships with Japan and international financial institutions, urging sustained political will, innovation, and inclusive collaboration as the foundation for Africa’s prosperity. He emphasized that the TICAD process remains a vital bridge between Africa and Asia in pursuit of a peaceful, prosperous, and resilient future.