Japan supports Africa to obtain a permanent seat in the Security Council

Tunisia – AFP
At the conclusion of the “Tokyo International Symposium on Development in Africa”, TICAD, in the capital, Tunis, on Sunday, Japan pledged to press for the continent’s obtaining a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council in order to “address the historical injustice” towards it.
In his speech, delivered from his country via video, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that it is “urgent to address the historical injustice” towards Africa, and give it a permanent seat on the Security Council so that it “works effectively”.
He explained that, with his country occupying non-permanent seats in the Council next year and until 2024, he will call for the reform of this United Nations institution, and allocating a permanent seat in it to the continent.
Kishida added that “Japan is ready to intensify its efforts” in this direction, and it will be a “real moment for the United Nations.”
“For the United Nations to work effectively for peace and stability, there is an urgent need to strengthen the United Nations through Security Council reform,” he added.
The Security Council has 15 members, five of which are permanent (the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain), while the rest of the UN member states occupy the other seats in rotation for two years.
Fumio Kishida reiterated that Tokyo will make “public and private investments” in the continent worth $30 billion over the next three years, stressing that it “want to further strengthen the partnership with Africa.”
On Sunday, he also confirmed that Japan would finance the training of “security cadres and security personnel”, help organize “fair and transparent” elections, and support the improvement of administrative and customs services.
The Japanese prime minister also referred to the situation “which is deteriorating with the increase in refugees and food shortages in the Horn of Africa”, where “Japan will appoint a special envoy.”
As for the troubled Sahel region, Japan will provide $8.3 billion in aid to “improve administrative services for the five million residents of this region.”