Ramaphosa Urges Africa to Seek Partners, Not Aid, at TICAD Summit

South Africa pushes for strategic collaboration at Tokyo summit

Addressing leaders from across the globe, President Cyril Ramaphosa told the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) that Africa is not looking for charity, but meaningful partnerships. Speaking at the plenary session on Africa’s economy, Ramaphosa outlined a vision for the continent as an active participant in shaping global trade, industrialisation, and green energy solutions.

“Africa must not merely react to global forces, we must help to shape them,” he said, highlighting the urgency for bold action as global economic uncertainty, industrial revolutions, and shifting trade dynamics reshape the world.

Africa is not seeking aid. It is seeking partners. Partners that understand value co-creation, sustainable development and mutual industrialisation.#TICAD9 pic.twitter.com/wXX0yif9lH

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) August 21, 2025

South Africa’s economic reforms

Ramaphosa emphasised that South Africa is taking concrete steps to modernise its economy. These include stabilising energy supply, upgrading infrastructure, and opening ports and rail networks to private investment. The president highlighted initiatives to accelerate reindustrialisation, localisation, green energy, and regional integration, including incentives for electric vehicles, battery production, and green hydrogen development.

“By investing in infrastructure and skills, we are positioning Africa not as a recipient of aid, but as a partner in global industrialisation,” he said.

Partnerships, not aid

Ramaphosa also addressed trade barriers, noting that recent US tariffs on African goods illustrate the need for diversified markets. “South Africa is a leading exporter of agricultural produce and industrial products, including automobiles. We call on our Japanese partners to collaborate on tariff cooperation and market access,” he said.

He added that Africa is seeking partnerships in infrastructure, energy, digital development, youth innovation, and small business growth, emphasizing the importance of value co-creation and sustainable development.

Context: Africa, China, and global competition

The TICAD summit comes as Japan seeks to position itself as a viable alternative to China’s heavy investments in Africa, which have included shipping ports, railways, and roads under Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative. Ramaphosa’s call underscores Africa’s desire to balance foreign engagement, mitigate debt pressures, and attract partners aligned with sustainable development and industrial growth.

Global leaders in attendance

The summit brought together high-profile leaders including Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, Kenyan President William Ruto, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, making it a pivotal platform for shaping Africa’s economic future.

Social and public reaction

Social media quickly picked up Ramaphosa’s remarks, with commentators praising his emphasis on mutual partnership and economic agency for Africa rather than dependency on foreign aid. Many users highlighted the potential for youth-led innovation and green energy projects as key areas where Africa could collaborate with international partners.

{Source: The Citizen}

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