Japan to give USD 1 billion for Sahel security, stabilisation

Japan said today it would give USD 1 billion in aid to help stabilise the Islamist-infested Sahel region of Africa, months after the deaths of 10 Japanese in a hostage crisis there.
The money is part of a USD 14 billion aid package to be given to Africa over five years, which Abe announced yesterday at the start of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development.
"Japan will provide USD 1 billion in assistance over five years for the development and stability of the Sahel," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told a gathering of African leaders in Tokyo.
The cash comes in addition to a USD 120 million aid pledge Tokyo announced in January, days after Islamist gunmen overran a gas plant in the Algerian desert, killing dozens of foreigners.

The four-day crisis ended with bodies and blood when Algerian commandos stormed the plant.
Graphic pictures and accounts that emerged in the days after the assault invoked executions and sent a collective shudder through Japan, whose energy and infrastructure firms are active in the region.

Japan's body count of 10 was the highest of any nation whose citizens were caught up in the crisis and an unusual taste of Jihadist anger for a country that has remained far removed from US-led wars in the Muslim world.
Despite the Japanese public's wariness of unrest in far-off and little-known places, government, industry and academic leaders warned the resource-poor archipelago cannot withdraw its energy interests from areas like the Sahel.

Instead, they said, Tokyo must take a lead in helping to create stability, through social programmes and development that can divert anger and tackle unemployment and poverty that experts say leads to extremism.
Abe said in addition to the financial aid unveiled today, Japan will also support the training of 2,000 people in counter-terrorism and security maintenance activities.
"We believe that the assistance we provide in line with the concept of human security, such as the strengthening of social systems, with particular focus on food, education and health... Will bring hope for economic development to the people of the region, thereby contributing to stability," he said.