Returning from a week-long trip to Japan, I'm pleased to share with you a few of my first impressions. Impressions on both the trip organization as well as on substantive discussions I had with a number of officials and governmental and private organizations.
The comments below are not a comprehensive Report. They just are a few observations about a number of my meetings with different personalities and groups.
As I have expected, the trip was well organized and most helpful. In addition, theentire program was well focused on: security, conflicts, international development cooperation, etc.
From Nouakchott to Tokyo, and especially during my stay -Tokyo, Hiroshima, Kyoto and Osaka - the planning was perfect and most useful to understanding a number of issues important to me and my Region. On substantive matters, discussions with my interlocutors were open and frank.
I had a most interesting working luncheon with the Director General of Africa Division from Mofa, Mr. Horiuchi Toshihiko and two of his colleagues from that Division. It was an open discussion on substantive questions related mostly to the situation in the Sahel and Japan cooperation with the Africa in general. Beyond the substantive issues related to insecurity in the Sahel (governance, various traffics in migrations, cigarettes, drugs, etc), I also had good exchanges of views on Ticad background and its future. I shared with the Africa Division my experience on that matter as well as my views on Ticad continued relevance due to its specificities: roles of governance, public service, private sector and Civil Societies Organizations as well as Ticad own working approaches.
Indeed, I'm convinced that, though we are in a new diplomatic - political era, Ticad remains most relevant and a useful cooperation tool to its partners. Obviously a few adaptations are needed to take into account the evolving political international environment.
In that context, I had most interesting exchange of views with a number of academics and experts on African issues. Those include a very interesting discussion in Osaka, with two experienced university Professors, Kenchi Shirato and Matsuo Watanabe. They know well Ticad background and related subjects. In Tokyo I had meeting with institutions I have known before while then the Executive Secretary of the Global Coalition for Africa (GCA) in Washington DC. These include the Executive Director of the Sasakawa Foundation: Mr. Kanehara Nobukatsu and his Director of African Affairs, Horiuchi Toshihiko. I also had an interesting discussion on the Africa Region, and beyond it, with Mr. Sasae Kenichiro president of Japan Institute of International Affairs. We met before when he was the special assistant to Ms. Ogata then the UNHR High Commissioner while I was in Burundi (1994 - 96) as the UN Special Representative of the Secretary General.
I was most interested and pleased by meeting with Mr Hirai Shinji, Deputy Commissioner for International Affairs - ANRE - just returning from United Arab Emirates COP 28 Conference. The importance of the COPs shouldn't be underestimated especially in a coastal state like Mauritania. A country often affected by drought and the fast growing urbanization related problems.
On international issues, the Sahel and Africa in general, I had a meeting and a good exchange of views with JICA, Africa division. Security and terrorism in the Sahel and their political and economic impacts on the whole Region were discussed. Here my point was, and it still is, that lasting insecurity should not be underestimated. Indeed as in Somalia or Yemen and Afghanistan, the more insecurity lasts in a country the more it becomes »a profitable business » to various internal and external groups and therefore more difficult to eradicate.
In that context, the impact of the ongoing civil civil war in Sudan should not be ignored by the Sahel states or their international partners. The illegal gold exploitation in the Region is also partly linked to funding terrorists' activities. Beyond accusations against Russia »Wagner troupes, » that gold exploitation deserves a serious monitoring and follow up to help regional and even international security. That also applies to the Sahel security and related issues: corruption, massive migrations, etc.
Taking into account that fragile situation, Sahel traditional partners, including Japan, USA and the EU shouldn't ignore or minimize the role and political impacts of social networks in these countries. Their traditional oral culture and their large youth unemployment help the fast spreading of rumors more than in many other regions of the world. Therefore, to avoid further deterioration of relations between the Sahel and its traditional international partners, these new socio political developments should be taken into account when addressing the Sahel region.
I had interesting exchanges of views with experts on African issues in specialized Institutes. These included IDE - JETRO with expertise in development and more present in East and Southern Africa. Our substantive discussion covered the increasing number of donor countries, the issue of conditionality, the BRICS, etc. Also a meeting with Professor Sanae Suzuki was most interesting to me. Discussions were on a number of questions including: conflicts and related approaches to their management - in the Sahel, Somalia, ECOWAS region - etc. We touched upon issues well known to both of us in conflict management: »bottom up or top down approaches. » Hot civil wars in places like the Sahel, Libya and Sudan are to be contained as their contagious effects on the whole Region shouldn't be underestimated.
The last meeting in Kyoto was with the Director of African Center close to the Association of African graduates.
Finally, I had two visits of different nature that I found most interesting.
One was to the National Museum of Territory and Sovereignty. Beyond its HQ's beautiful building, the comments by the guide and maps presented were very inspiring. Regarding that topic, I was only aware of Sakhaline case. I hope that a peaceful approach, combined with a strong memory in an impressive building within a democratic and prosperous country (Japan), can be a diplomatic solution.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
The other visit was to the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka. The Offices and staff were well organized and located in a 44th floor overlooking the work being executed. Due to airports security requirements, I only brought with me one badge and a pen not the other gifts - bottled beverages - given to me by the organizers.
In Kyoto, my programmed visits were most helpful as they included a cultural dimension. Therefore, I was pleased to have visited a Museum and a Shrine. In Tokyo my visits included Firefighters Head Quarters and its civil education training in case of a major earthquake.
On arrival, departure and throughout the trip, my guide was most helpful. She was well organized and even insisted...on staying at the airport until my plane took off. On my arrival she was with the two Mauritanian diplomats greeting me on behalf of Ambassador Sidya Ould Elhadj.
In fine, many thanks to the Ambassador UCHIDA Tatsukunito, Mr Yamada Wahito, Mr. Kazuki Ueta and their colleagues and local staff who helped organize my invitation and successful trip.
On personal basis, I was very happy to have made the visit to Sumo training, an impressive. sport.
Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, President Centre 4s
