Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has called for stronger cooperation from Japan and other international partners to address the growing security threats in Africa. Speaking at the Ministerial Meeting of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), held from August 24th to 25th, 2024, in Tokyo, Japan, Tuggar expressed concern over the continent’s escalating security challenges and their impact on development.
Tuggar highlighted the increasing complexity of threats such as terrorism and transnational organized crime, which are destabilizing Africa’s peace and security framework. He noted that these issues are not only undermining efforts to promote democracy and good governance but are also deterring foreign direct investment in Africa.
Emphasizing Africa’s commitment to addressing these challenges, Tuggar underscored the importance of TICAD’s multidimensional approach in tackling the root causes of insecurity on the continent. He pointed to the proliferation of small arms, the presence of foreign mercenaries, climate change impacts, and illicit financial flows as significant concerns, revealing that Africa loses an estimated $88.6 billion annually to such illicit activities, equivalent to 3% of its GDP.
The minister also raised alarms about the activities of cryptocurrency pirates, which he said are destabilizing local currencies and undermining macroeconomic reforms. He attributed these external factors to the rise of Unconstitutional Changes of Government (UCGs) in Africa and suggested that these challenges might be contributing to a perceived decline in Japanese investment in the continent.
Tuggar urged Japan not to retreat but to collaborate closely with African leaders and other development partners in tackling these security challenges. He called for increased support, particularly in regions like Lake Chad, the Great Lakes, the Sahel, Sudan, and Somalia, which are currently grappling with significant security issues.
Looking ahead to the TICAD 9 Summit, Tuggar proposed a focus on strategic infrastructure development, foreign direct investment, capacity building, technology transfer, and the empowerment of women and youth in Africa. He also appealed to Japan to support Africa’s call for United Nations Security Council reforms, advocating for fair and equitable representation for the continent as outlined in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, including two permanent and non-permanent seats for Africa.
