A little late...

...to the party, but certainly a shot across the bow for China, who regards the Continent as its own Saudi Arabia.  I have told readers here that Africa is THE chessboard for the world now, and proxy kinetic conflicts and more prosaic financial battles will determine the winner.

In Japan's case, they cannot afford to appear weak given China's position and will happily open another theater of competition to distract from the Sengoku issue.

Full article here.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged 3.2 trillion yen ($32 billion) to Africa as his government seeks to catch up with China in pursuing resources, markets and influence on the continent.

Abe announced the five-year commitment of public and private support in a speech today at theTokyo International Conference on African Development. Officials from about 50 nations are attending the meeting, held every five years, which is the biggest African development event outside the continent since it began in 1993.