Farewell Message from Ambassador Horiuchi

2023/9/20
September 2023
 
After almost three years of my tenure here in Addis Ababa, I will be returning to Japan.
 
When I arrived in October 2020, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, I witnessed how the AU combat the disease, being united as Africa and building upon its past experience in fighting infectious diseases. I felt that this was a real example of African integration. And now, as I leave this post, I strongly feel that the world is becoming increasingly more willing to listen to the voice of Africa, as symbolised by the recent decision of G20 to officially welcome the AU, and that Africa is keen to make the most of such opportunity.
 
Amid this great dynamism of AU, I will continue to think and act on how we should work and co-create with Africa. There is still so much that I can learn from Africa, and I could not learn enough. I intend to spend the rest of my life continue learning.
 
HORIUCHI Toshihiko
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan
to the African Union