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CWA # 1462, 31 August 2024
NIAS Africa Studies
Japan in Africa: Strengthening relations amidst evolving global politics

  Sayeka Ghosh

The Eighth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 8) was held in Tunisia in August 2022. For the second time, the conference was held on African soil. 48 African countries participated in the conference. The conference highlighted mutual respect and shared interests between Japan and African countries. Japan-Africa relations began during the early 1990s, following the creation of TICAD in 1993. Over the past three decades, TICAD has evolved from an originally aid-based platform into a framework of economic partnership and political dialogue.

Japan in Africa: Interests and strategies
1. Trade and investment. According to the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRA), in 2021, Africa secured a USD 4.2 billion trade surplus with Japan. It says that Japan-Africa trade reached USD 23.5 billion, a 74 per cent increase compared to USD 16.5 billion in 2020. Africa's exports from Japan were recorded at USD 13.9 billion and imports were estimated at USD 9.6 billion. In 2022, Liberia was the leading export destination for Japan, recording JPY 348 billion worth of exports, followed by South Africa. Transport equipment and general machinery are the popular export goods from Japan for African countries. Japan’s footprints in Africa point to its growing commercial, investment, and geopolitical interests. The focus on opportunities for trade and investment in Africa is driven by the rapidly expanding African economies, natural resources and high potential for economic growth. The African markets are considered ideal for many Japanese products and services as its population is expected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050. Japanese companies have taken slow inroads into Africa in the automobile, electronics and construction sectors. Toyota, a leading automobile company in Japan, set up assembly plants in South Africa and Kenya. Japan invested in the expansion of Mtwara port in Tanzania and the construction of Nacala port in Mozambique. 

2. Influence in world affairs. Japan has long been a bystander in global politics because of its pacifist constitution and dependence on the US. However, recently, the country has been making efforts to revamp its position in the international arena by increasingly participating in peacekeeping efforts. Japan has deployed personnel to South Sudan as part of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). Additionally, the country has been providing training and capacity-building support to African peacekeepers through initiatives including the African Peacekeeping Rapid Response Partnership (APRRP). Beyond the economic relations, it has been gathering political allies in the African continent to secure permanent membership in the UNSC. The Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), launched by Japan in 1993, is the epitome of Japan’s interests in Africa. TICAD provides a platform for Japan and African countries to promote cooperation at different stages of economic development and address the challenges including climate change and security issues. Through the TICAD, Japan has been trying to renew its position in global leadership while enhancing its soft power.

3. Strategic importance. Africa’s rich natural resources, especially the rare earths, oil and gas are imperative to Japan. Cobalt from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Morocco, is vital for producing lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles and electronic devices. Nickel, imported from Madagascar, South Africa and Botswana, is essential for stainless steel production and battery technologies, including those for electric vehicles. Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) from South Africa are used in catalytic converters to reduce vehicle emissions and various industrial applications. Tantalum from Rwanda and Burundi is critical for electronic components such as capacitors and high-performance alloys. Through Africa, Japan aims to secure critical minerals to expand and thereby dominate the automobile sector. It also aims to diversify its supply chain beyond the traditional outlets. Japan’s increasing investments in Africa’s port, logistics and security sectors point to its interest in Africa’s developing consumer market, critical minerals and secure sea routes.

Africa’s Objectives in Japan
1. Quality technology investment. African countries seek Japanese expertise and investment in 5G networks, data centres, and digital infrastructure. NEC Corporation of Japan has been involved in projects to improve internet connectivity in Kenya and South Africa. Technology investments would allow Africa to move away from being an exporter of raw materials to advancements in technologies and manufacturing, particularly in healthcare systems, renewable energy sources, and digital networks across the continent. For instance, Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO) has partnered up with Morrocco’s concentrated solar power projects to address energy poverty and secure cleaner energy. 

2. A balanced approach. African countries seek balance in international partnerships to avoid over-dependence on one actor or region. The Japanese approach, characterised by mutual respect, non-interference, and symmetrical partnership, is befitting the interests of African countries. Unlike several other global actors, Japan’s aid and investment do not contain political strings, scepticism and security concerns. 

3. Capacity building. Africa’s interaction with Japan extends to learning from its experience in disaster management, urban planning, and environmental sustainability. For instance, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has been instrumental in helping African countries like Mozambique build disaster management capacities. Following the Cyclone Idai in 2019, JICA launched projects to enhance Mozambique’s disaster resilience. This included training local officials in early warning systems, emergency response coordination, and disaster risk reduction strategies based on Japan’s experience with frequent natural disasters. With the challenges of rapid urbanisation, climate change, and sustainable development facing African countries, Japan’s experience in these fields is resourceful. Besides, Japan has played a crucial role in modernising agriculture in Africa, particularly in promoting the New Rice for Africa (NERICA) varieties. In Uganda, Japanese experts have been involved in research and extension services to improve rice production. NERICA varieties, which are high-yield and drought-resistant, are vital for food security and sustainable agriculture in Uganda.

Conclusion
Japan is widely perceived as a trustable partner in the majority of African countries due to its non-interference policies and overlapping interests, being part of the Global South countries. Japan is eager to deepen its involvement in Africa to strengthen its global influence by averting access to critical resources. Meanwhile, Japan will be a reliable partner to Africa for its advanced technology sharing. It also seeks partnerships that meet both immediate short-term needs and long-term development objectives. Japan has also emerged as an Asian alternative to the West, Russia and China, which comes with the baggage of interference, human rights and security threats, and debt traps and scepticism. Japan’s high-quality investment, combined with technology transfer and human resource development, are of Africa’s interests. Africa’s emerging economy and market capacity are in global demand. Hence, Japan-Africa relations are likely to take an upward trajectory.

About the author
Sayeka Ghosh is a Research Assistant at NIAS.

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