AU Commission and Japan Reaffirm Strong Partnership, Commit to Deeper Cooperation Ahead of TICAD 10

Addis Ababa, January 13, 2026 (FMC) — The Chairperson of the African Union Commission met with Japan’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ayano Kunimitsu, at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa this afternoon, reaffirming more than three decades of strong AU–Japan cooperation, particularly through the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) platform.

The AU Commission Chairperson emphasized the longstanding partnership and highlighted TICAD 9, held in Yokohama, as a significant milestone in advancing shared priorities between Africa and Japan.

Their discussions focused on further strengthening bilateral cooperation, including Japan’s continued support to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), as well as greater investment in infrastructure development to drive sustainable economic growth and continental integration.

Ayano Kunimitsu commended the successful organization of TICAD 9 and reiterated Japan’s commitment to work closely with the African Union as preparations move toward TICAD 10, which will be hosted in Africa. She also reaffirmed support for key AU priority initiatives, including the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The meeting further acknowledged Africa’s expanding role in global governance, with Japan welcoming the African Union’s accession to the G20 as a transformative development. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening collaboration through the AU–Japan High-Level Dialogue and the TICAD framework, while underscoring their shared commitment to multilateralism.