On August 22, Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey gave a lecture titled “Conflict Mediation and Peacebuilding in the Sahel Region.” Minister Dussey was in Japan for the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) Ministerial Meeting held from August 24 to 25.
Despite his tight schedule, the lecture was organized with the cooperation of the Embassy of the Republic of Togo in Japan.
This reflected Minister Dussey’s wish to engage with Japanese youth and discuss the current situation in Africa, particularly the Sahel region of West Africa.
The Sahel region, which includes Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, faces numerous challenges, including environmental crises, the threat of terrorism, deteriorating security, and political instability. Togo, located south of the Sahel, has been actively involved in efforts to stabilize and maintain peace in the region.
Minister Dussey, a professor of philosophy and an expert in peacebuilding and conflict resolution, has served as a diplomatic advisor to the President of Togo and has been mediating military conflicts in the Sahel since 2022. His leadership has earned him recognition as one of the “100 Most Influential Africans” by New African Magazine.
In his lecture, Minister Dussey highlighted the diversity and potential of Africa, which consists of five regions: East, West, South, North, and Central. He countered the common portrayal of Africa as a “continent of disasters” by emphasizing that “Africa is the continent of the future, brimming with limitless possibilities.”
Addressing the severe humanitarian crises caused by terrorism, Minister Dussey stressed the importance of collective action over individual national responses.
He emphasized the need for neighboring countries to cooperate and maintain dialogue, stating, “Protecting our nations and citizens is paramount. To achieve this, countries must have a vision for peace and a strong commitment to ensuring peace and security.”
The lecture concluded with a call for international cooperation and a strong will to achieve peace.
The event saw active participation from diplomats, students from African regions, and other attendees, who engaged in lively discussions on current international relations and counter-terrorism strategies.
Minister Dussey, balancing his roles as a minister and an academic, encouraged open dialogue and responded to questions and comments with humor and sincerity.
The lecture provided participants with a deeper understanding of the relationship between Japan and Africa, as well as the current and future state of Africa.