Japan pledges $30 billion in African aid at Tunis summit

Addis Ababa, August 27, 2022 (FBC) – Japan pledged 30 billion USD in aid for development in Africa on Saturday, saying it wants to work more closely with the continent, with the rules-based international order under threat after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Addressing a Japan-Africa summit in Tunisia, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Tokyo would work to ensure grain shipments to Africa amid a global shortage.

“If we give up on a rules-based society and permit unilateral changes of the status quo by force, the impact of that will extend not only through Africa, but all the world,” Kishida said after testing positive for COVID-19.

Kishida said the 30 billion USD would be delivered over three years, promising smaller sums for food security in coordination with the African Development Bank.

Tunisia’s state news agency cited Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi as saying Japan was granting Tunisia $100 million to help mitigate the impact of the pandemic.