Japan Contributes to Silencing the Guns Project

Addis Ababa, March 18/2020 (ENA) Japan reaffirmed its financial support to the African Union’s 'Silencing the Guns' project under the auspice of “New Approach for Peace and Stability in Africa (NAPSA)”. 

Japanese Embassy in Ethiopia today announced that the Government of Japan has approved more than 130,000 USD support to the African Union Peace Fund as the budget of the country’s Fiscal Year 2019/2020.

In a press release the Embassy sent to ENA said the contribution is linked with Japan's new initiative called NAPSA, which was announced by Prime Minister Shinzo ABE during the Seventh Tokoyo International Conference on African development (TICAD-7) summit in August, 2019.

Silencing the Guns is AU’s flagship project that aims to end all conflicts in Africa by 2020.

“Through NAPSA, Japan will support Africa's efforts to prevent, intervene and mediate conflicts with Africa in driver's seat,” the Embassy further stated.  

The contribution aims at supporting two projects of the Commission of the African Union to promote peace and stability in the continent.

The contribution includes 45 projects in total to be implemented in 26 African countries.

Japan also supports institution building and strengthening of governance including judicial, administrative and legislative systems in order to address the root causes of conflicts in the continent, the Embassy added.

Peace Fund is intended to be the principal financing instrument for peace and security activities in Africa.

In recent years Japan’s security contribution in Africa rises with the unprecedented participation of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) in an international counter-piracy operation.