Japan seeks bigger role in Africa at Yokohama summit

Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has opened a three-day summit with nearly 50 African leaders, pledging deeper economic and strategic ties as Tokyo looks to counterbalance waning U.S. engagement and China’s expanding footprint on the continent.

The gathering, part of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), brings together heads of state, ministers, and global officials, including U.N. Secretary-General…