3 The Situation in North Africa(Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco)
(1) Egypt
Egypt, located in the northeast of the African continent and bordering Europe across the Mediterranean Sea, is a major power in the region playing a significant role for the stability of the Middle East and North Africa. On the economic front, its gross domestic product (GDP) maintained positive growth despite the impact of COVID-19 (such as declining tourism revenues). Due to the soaring global food and resource prices in the wake of the deterioration of the situation in Ukraine, in December, the country received support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) through a 46-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF) worth 3 billion US dollars.
Egypt’s relations with Japan continues to be positive. Since President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi’s visit to Japan in 2016, progress has been seen in areas of cooperation such as the introduction of Japanese-style education, strengthening support for the Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST), the construction project of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), and the construction project of the Greater Cairo Metro Line No. 4. Following the Japan-Egypt Foreign Ministers’ video conference meeting on the occasion of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) Ministerial Meeting in March and the Japan-Egypt Summit video conference meeting on the occasion of TICAD 8 in August, a Japan Egypt Foreign Ministers’ meeting was held during the UN General Assembly in September where they discussed the international situation. They also reaffirmed to further strengthen bilateral relations. In September, Minister of Transport Kamel Elwazer attended the state funeral for late Prime Minister ABE Shinzo as a special envoy of the President and paid a courtesy call on Chief Cabinet Secretary MATSUNO Hirokazu. Environment Minister NISHIMURA Akihiro attended the Egypt-chaired 27th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) held in Sharm el-Sheikh in November.
Japan-Egypt Summit Video Conference Meeting (August 27, Tokyo; Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)
Regarding the two SDF personnel who have been dispatched to the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) stationed in the Sinai Peninsula since April 2019, a fourth rotation of personnel was conducted in June to continue to contribute to regional peace and stability.
(2) Libya
Although Libya is an energy powerhouse boasting the greatest oil reserves in Africa, after the collapse of the Qadhafi regime in 2011, the country remains unstable with political power split between the east and the west of the country. In April 2019, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, powerful commander of the eastern “Libyan National Army (LNA),” ordered an advance on Tripoli, leading to armed clashes. The counterattack by the Turkish-backed Government of National Unity (GNA) since May 2020 resulted in a standoff along a line connecting the central coastal city of Sirte and the inland city of Jufra. Armed clashes between the eastern and western forces have decreased significantly following the signing of a permanent ceasefire agreement in October.
On the political front, the UN-led National Dialogue Forum was held in Tunis in November 2020 with 75 participants representing the Libyan people, and a basic agreement was reached to hold a series of elections on December 24 (Independence Day), 2021. While a provisional Government of National Unity (GNU) was established, an election-related law has not been enacted, and postponement of the elections was announced on December 22, 2021. In March 2022, the parliament based in the east approved a new cabinet, which again created a political power split between the east and the west of the country.
In relations with Japan, Prime Minister Kishida and President Mohammed Menfi of the Presidential Council of Libya held a summit video conference meeting on the occasion of TICAD 8 in August.
(3) Maghreb Countries
The Maghreb region is of great economic importance in Africa due to its geographical advantage of being located at the junction to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and its great potential thanks to its abundant young labor force. On the other hand, due to the impact of COVID-19 and the situation in Ukraine, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia are faced with the challenge of how to overcome increasing poverty, regional economic disparities, high unemployment rate, and soaring food prices. There are also concerns about the security implications of the flow of weapons and illegal immigrants from Libya and the Sahel region.
In Tunisia, where President Kais Saied has been conducting political reforms since July 2021, a referendum on whether to amend the constitution was held in July 2022, and a new constitution came into effect in August. A new election law was announced in September, and elections for the national assembly were held peacefully in December 2022 and in January 2023.
Regarding Tunisia’s relations with Japan, TICAD 8 was held in the Tunisian capital of Tunis in August, and Foreign Minister Hayashi visited Tunisia as a special envoy of the Prime Minister and paid a courtesy call to President Saied and held a meeting with Foreign Minister Othman Jerandi. Prime Minister Kishida also held a summit video conference meeting with President Saied and confirmed that both countries would continue to work closely together to further strengthen bilateral cooperative relations.
Foreign Minister Hayashi pays a courtesy call to Tunisian President Kais Saied as Special Envoy of the Prime Minister (August 26, Tunis, Tunisia)
In Algeria, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika stepped down in April 2019 following protracted protests against his long rule, and former Prime Minister Abdelmadjid Tebboune assumed the presidency in December that year following presidential elections. As part of political reforms aimed at realizing a “New Algeria,” the President amended the constitution and held elections for the People’s National Assembly (lower house of parliament), and, in July 2021, appointed Prime Minister Aïmene Benabderrahmane to form a new cabinet.
2022 marked the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Algeria (see the Column on page 178), and various cultural and other events were held in Algeria, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. As the culmination of the anniversary, State Minister for Foreign Affairs YAMADA Kenji visited Algeria in December, as the first Japanese government official to visit the country at the political level in the last four years, and held meetings with Algerian government officials including Minister of Industry Afmad Zaghdar and Minister of Energy and Mines Mohamed Arkab.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Yamada takes a commemorative photo after meeting with Minister of Industry Ahmed Zaghdar (December 18, Algiers, Algeria)
In Morocco, the coalition cabinet led by the leader of the National Rally of Independents (RNI), Aziz Akhannouch, which was formed following the September 2021 lower house elections, is focusing on implementing the “New Development Model” proposed by King Mohammed VI, in addition to reforms in health, education, social security, and taxes. In particular, a special plan was announced in February in response to rising food and energy prices triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and aggravating water shortages.
Regarding Morroco’s relations with Japan, Foreign Minister Hayashi held a video conference meeting with Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita in September. Moreover, in the same month, Prime Minister Kishida held a summit meeting with Head of Government Akhannouch, who visited Japan to attend the state funeral of the late Prime Minister ABE Shinzo, where the two leaders confirmed they would further strengthen the cooperative relationship between the two countries in a broad range of fields. In December, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Yamada visited Morocco and held talks with Foreign Minister Bourita and Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of Investment, Convergence and Evaluation of Public Policies Mohcine Jazouli.
Prime Minister Kishida shakes hands with Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch of Morocco (September 28, Tokyo; Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)
For many Japanese, the name Algeria may evoke the classic Japanese pop song “Woman from the Kasbah,” and its lyrics “this is the very end of the Earth, Algeria.” Algeria is located in North Africa, far away from Japan, but it is a land of diverse and stunning scenic beauty that has the largest land area on the African continent, features traces of the Roman Empire, French colonial-era, and Arabic architecture, and embraces the contrast of the vast Sahara Desert and cities on the glittering Mediterranean Sea coast.
During Algeria’s war of independence, the National Liberation Front (FLN), an organization that played a key role in Algeria’s independence, opened a Far East office in Tokyo. Therefore, Japan and Algeria have had connections since even before Algeria’s independence in 1962. The year 2022 marks the 60th anniversary of both Algeria’s independence and the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Algeria.
In celebration of these milestones, a commemorative concert was held in Algiers on June 29 by Japanese harp (koto) musician MIYAZAKI Mieko, attended by representatives of the Government of Algeria, businesses, and journalists. Moreover, Japan was the guest of honor at the 14th edition of the Algiers International Comics Festival (Festival International de la Bande Dessinée d’Alger, FIBDA) in early October. A concert was also held featuring bamboo flute (shakuhachi) player CreaSion Katsura and three-stringed Japanese lute (Tsugaru shamisen) artist SAWADA Harugin (Sylvain Diony) playing together with an Algerian orchestra, enthralling large crowds with the beauty of their music. Japanese university professors and comic (manga) artists were also invited to FIBDA, engaging with local manga fans through symposiums and manga workshops. Finally, in November, two Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects and one Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Project were implemented, including support for the Algerian Aikido Federation.
For 60 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have developed a relationship in wide-ranging areas, including political, economic, and cultural spheres. We hope to further deepen this relationship toward the future. Please visit the official Facebook page of the Embassy of Japan in Algeria(Note), which is updated periodically.
Koto performance by MIYAZAKI Mieko (June 29, Algiers, Algeria)
Around 1,300 aikido martial artists from across Algeria attended the signing ceremony for the Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Project and representatives of aikido, Japanese fencing (kendo), and the art of drawing the Japanese sword (iaido) demonstrated their performances.
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Publish date : 2023-11-22 17:17:29
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