Africa-Press – Eritrea. Statement by H.E. Mr. Estifanos Afeworki
Ambassador of the State of Eritrea to Japan and Head of Delegation of the State of Eritrea to TICAD9
City of Yokohama, August 20–22, 2025
H.E. Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Representative of the Government of Japan, Former Prime Minister of Japan
H.E. Mr. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, AU Chairperson, President of Angola
Let me begin by expressing our delegation’s utmost appreciation for the invitation extended to the State of Eritrea by Japan to participate in the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), being held in the City of Yokohama from August 20 to 22, 2025.
It is also an honor for me, to take this opportunity, to join hands with all the esteemed participants of this event and to express our gratitude to the co-organizers for their constructive contributions made for the successful preparation of this important conference.
Regional peace and security dilemmas currently facing the Middle East, the Horn of Africa, and the Nile Basin countries are of strategic concern to my Government of Eritrea—which is in a crucial period of building a nation-state of economic strength, home-grown consensus on human security, culture, politics, democracy, and governance as the main essence and benchmark of its future growth. A nation straddling 3,300 kms on the Red Sea, which includes 354 islands in one of the main trade corridors of the world with its future pegged on a safe, peaceful, secure, economically integrated, and competitive neighborhood.
People in the region deserve, more than at any time in their recent history, peace not wars and conflicts, be it covert or overt. It is imperative for TICAD9 to limelight and join future mutual efforts in maintaining stability and prosperity in this strategic region in particular.
Peace and security are not a choice but a must for our region and for the planet. Developed economies have much to benefit from this trajectory of history because essential energy and critical mineral resources do matter to their economies more than at any time now.
In brief, TICAD9’s focus on building a win-win, robust bridge of energy and mineral resources diplomacy for the transfer of technology, know-how, and capital is the only viable future, not conflicts and wars now. Powers in the region should desist from the temptations of militarization, proxy wars to revive historical military engagements because current global economic crisis status deserve a better option, with unwavering recognition of international law, UN and the African Union Charters.
Thank you.
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