Japan will provide $550 million in new aid to African nations to help foster peace and stability on the continent, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida announced at a preparatory aid meeting in Ethiopia, government officials said.
The ¥52.4 billion package disclosed Saturday is part of Tokyo's efforts to combat terrorism in Africa following the deaths in January of 10 Japanese who were taken hostage in Algeria. The fresh assistance includes funds to bolster antiterrorism measures, enhance policing and strengthen Japan's ties with Africa.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans to unveil an even larger aid package at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development that he will chair from June 1 to 3 in Yokohama.