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(Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)

Tokyo – May 26, 2025

Her Excellency the Prime Minister of Japan, Sanae Takaichi, honored the “Africa Day” celebration organized by the African Ambassadors Group in the Japanese capital, Tokyo. The event witnessed broad participation from senior Japanese officials, including ministers, parliamentarians, CEOs of major corporations and institutions, and prominent figures from Japanese society.

The Ambassador of Sudan to Japan, Elrayih Hyduob, and his spouse attended the celebration, alongside Counselor Ali Mohamed Ahmed. The event was also attended by Ambassador Fathallah Sijilmassi, Director General of the African Union Commission, who delivered a speech on behalf of the Chairperson of the Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssef, in the presence of several government officials, politicians, and heads of major Japanese companies.

In her speech, the Japanese Prime Minister emphasized the importance of strengthening the partnership between Japan and African nations in light of current international challenges. She stressed the need to activate the Japanese initiative for a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” a vision originally launched from the African continent by the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Diplomatic Engagements on the Sidelines

On the sidelines of the celebration, Ambassador Elrayih Hyduob held a series of meetings with several Japanese officials. During these talks, he reviewed the positive developments in Sudan, highlighting the gradual resumption of state institutions’ operations from the capital, Khartoum, as well as the government’s efforts to restore stability and drive economic development.

The Sudanese Ambassador also discussed with Japanese officials opportunities to expand cooperation in the fields of development and investment, within the framework of strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.

In a meeting with Ambassador Fathallah Sijilmassi, Ambassador Elrayih Hyduob underscored the importance of supporting efforts aimed at restoring Sudan’s membership in the African Union. He noted that this is especially crucial in light of recent political and security developments, including the appointment of a civilian prime minister, the formation of the new government, and the political transition plan recently announced by the Sudanese government.