On Wednesday, August 20, 2025, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has unveiled plans for an economic zone linking the Indian Ocean to Africa, signalling Tokyo’s intent to deepen engagement with the continent at a time when U.S. influence is waning and China’s presence is expanding. Launching the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Yokohama, Ishiba pledged to bolster investment, promote free trade, and support the African Continental Free Trade Area. He announced a $5.5 billion loan package with the African Development Bank to aid sustainable development and address debt challenges, alongside a commitment to train 30,000 artificial intelligence experts across Africa in the next three years.
The three-day summit, which gathers leaders from nearly 50 African countries and international organisations, is centred on economic growth, peace, stability, health, climate change, and education. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres emphasised the need for Africa to have a stronger voice in global decision-making and called for reforms to the “unjust and unfair” financial architecture. Delegates are expected to adopt a “Yokohama Declaration” at the close of the conference, underlining Africa’s role in shaping its future and Japan’s bid to become a strategic partner in its development trajectory.