Japan $1 billion aid earmarked for northern Africa

YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — Japan announced Sunday a plan to provide 100 billion yen ($1 billion) in aid over the next five years to northern Africa for economic development and humanitarian efforts, including help with security and counter-terrorism measures.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced the assistance in a speech at a conference in Yokohama, near Tokyo, where officials from 50 African nations have gathered to talk about trade, growth and other issues.

The $1 billion is part of the 3.2 trillion yen ($32 billion) in government and private-sector aid announced Saturday.

Japan is keen to court Africa, which is rich in resources and growing as a market, after having fallen behind Asian rival China in trade with and infrastructure projects in Africa.

The three-day conference ends Monday. It has been held every five years since 1993.