LocationsUbuntu: ‘I am because you are’
Event Report: 3rd Model African Union Conference General Assembly
July 20, 2026
Group Photo of the 3rd Model African Union (MAU) Japan Conference General Assembly
On 17 May 2026, more than 150 participants gathered at Sophia University for the 3rd Model African Union (MAU) Japan Conference General Assembly. The conference brought together youth delegates representing 42 African Union Member States, drawn from 134 universities and 15 high schools across Japan. Participants were selected from over 326 applicants (the largest numbers of applicants )spanning 24 prefectures and more than 60 educational institutions nationwide.
The Model African Union (MAU) Japan is a youth-led platform that simulates the deliberative processes of the African Union, enabling participants to engage directly with Africa’s development agenda while strengthening Africa–Japan relations. Through diplomatic simulation, policy debate, and intercultural dialogue, students gain practical exposure to multilateral negotiation and global leadership while contributing fresh, youth-driven perspectives on Africa’s future.
The 2026 cohort was held under the theme of "Ubuntu"—a traditional African philosophy that emphasizes mutual aid and solidarity. It reflects the belief that individual happiness is inseparable from that of others. Guided by this principle, delegates representing ambassadors explored how youth can collaborate across borders to address shared global challenges and co-create pathways toward a more inclusive and sustainable future.
Opening Session of the 3rd Model African Union Japan Conference General Assembly
Opening Session of the 3rd Model African Union Japan Conference General Assembly
Opening Session: Voices of Partnership and Purpose
Opening Session: Voices of Partnership and Purpose
The conference opened with welcoming remarks from Professor Miki Sugimura, President of Sophia University, who expressed deep appreciation to all partners, co-organizers, and participants. She highlighted Sophia University’s long-standing engagement with African Studies and its commitment to bridging academic knowledge with real-world global challenges.
Professor Sugimura encouraged participants to view MAU not simply as a simulation of diplomacy, but as a space for genuine learning, exchange, and global citizenship formation. She urged delegates to engage with openness and curiosity, emphasizing that understanding Africa also means understanding the shared future of an interconnected world.
Welcoming Remarks by Professor Miki Sugimura, President of Sophia University
Delivering the keynote address, Ahunna Eziakonwa, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and UNDP Regional Director for Africa, underscored the growing importance of youth leadership in shaping global development pathways. She emphasized that Africa is no longer a passive participant in global affairs, but an active and influential partner shaping solutions for the future.
She described MAU as a platform where ideas are tested, perspectives are challenged, and leadership is forged. Calling on delegates to see themselves as contributors rather than observers, she reminded participants that leadership begins with responsibility, courage, and the willingness to act.
Keynote Address by Ahunna Eziakonwa, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and UNDP Regional Director for Africa
From the perspective of development cooperation, Toshiyuki Nakamura, Special Advisor to the President of JICA, emphasized the urgency of international collaboration in addressing global challenges such as climate change, conflict, and inequality. He reflected on JICA’s decades of partnership across Africa and highlighted the importance of trust, dialogue, and mutual understanding in building sustainable societies.
He praised MAU as a practical embodiment of the African Union’s principles of unity and diversity, noting that the relationships formed through such engagements often extend beyond the conference itself to shape long-term connections between future leaders of Africa and Japan.
Remarks by Toshiyuki Nakamura, Special Advisor to the President of JICA
Representing Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Misako Takahashi, Assistant Minister and Director-General for African Affairs Development, reaffirmed Japan’s longstanding commitment to Africa through the TICAD process. Opening her remarks in the six official languages of the African Union, she emphasized the importance of people-to-people connections in strengthening Africa–Japan relations.
She encouraged participants to use the MAU platform to broaden their perspectives, challenge assumptions, and develop innovative approaches to global development challenges.
Remarks by Misako Takahashi, Assistant Minister and Director-General for African Affairs Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
Message from the African Union Commission
The conference featured a special video address by Ms. Nonkululeko Prudence Ngwenya, Director of the Women, Gender and Youth Directorate at the African Union Commission.
She highlighted that Africa is currently in the Decade of Accelerated Implementation of Agenda 2063, with youth and women at the centre of continental transformation. She emphasized that the theme Ubuntu reflects the essence of collective leadership, where progress is achieved through shared responsibility and cooperation.
Commending MAU as a critical leadership development platform, she encouraged participants to recognize the power of their voices in shaping Africa’s present and future.
Video Message from the African Union Commission
Delegates’ Opening Statements: Youth Perspectives on Africa’s Future
Despite diverse national contexts, their interventions converged around three major themes that reflect Africa’s shared development priorities.
Youth Empowerment and Governance
Delegates emphasized that Africa’s demographic advantage must translate into meaningful political participation. They called for stronger inclusion of young people in governance structures and decision-making processes, arguing that sustainable development depends on empowering youth as active agents of change.
Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence
Participants highlighted the urgent need to bridge the digital divide and accelerate technological innovation. They advocated for investment in digital infrastructure, AI-driven solutions, and regional innovation ecosystems to support education, entrepreneurship, healthcare, and governance.
Socio-Economic Integration and Stability
Delegates underscored the importance of regional integration as a driver of economic resilience. Discussions focused on trade, entrepreneurship, vocational training, food security, and public-private collaboration as essential pillars for inclusive growth across the continent.
Delegates Delivering Their Opening Statements
Specialized Technical Committee (STC) Outcomes
Delegates proceeded to negotiate resolutions across three Specialized Technical Committees.
- STC 1 (Governance, Peace & Security): Mandated closing policy implementation gaps, institutionalizing civic technology to restore youth trust, and embedding youth voices into rule-based frameworks to guarantee long-term regional peace.
- STC 2 (Economic Integration, Trade & Agriculture): Focused on operationalizing the AfCFTA by upgrading digital trade infrastructure for young entrepreneurs, creating private innovation centers, and funding modern agricultural education.
- STC 3 (Education, Science & Technology): Reformed traditional curricula to match digital labor demands, approved the creation of regional AI learning hubs, and secured structured joint-venture frameworks between governments and international organizations.
Voting and Resolutions
Upon conclusion of the deliberations, the General Assembly proceeded to the voting session. The results are recorded as follows:
- STC 1 Resolution on Governance, Peace & Security was officially Passed (41 In favor / 0 Against / 1 Abstention by Tunisia).
- STC 2 Resolution on Economic Integration, Trade & AfCFTA was officially Passed (41 In favor / 1 Against by Djibouti / 0 Abstention).
- STC 3 Resolution on Education, Science & Technology was officially Passed (42 In favor / 0 Against / 0 Abstention).
The adoption of all three resolutions reflected a strong consensus among delegates on the urgency of youth-led, practical solutions to Africa’s development challenges.
Awards and Recognition
The conference concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing outstanding contributions.
Best Delegation Award Recipient with Mr. Toshiyuki Nakamura
Best Position Paper Award Recipients with Ms. Miki Sugimura
Japan–Africa Cultural Exchange
Following the formal proceedings, participants engaged in a vibrant cultural exchange programme aimed at deepening mutual understanding between African and Japanese youth.
The session featured presentations of traditional African attire alongside Japanese Yukata, followed by collaborative dance performances that brought participants together in a shared celebration of cultural diversity.
Interactive group discussions and creative activities, including the “Cherry Blossoms and Baobab Tree” artwork, provided space for reflection on identity, connection, and global citizenship.
The programme concluded with a commemorative group photograph and informal networking session.
Why MAU is important
The 3rd Model African Union Conference reaffirmed MAU Japan as more than a diplomatic simulation. It is a transformative platform where young people actively engage with the realities of global governance, experience the complexities of negotiation, and co-create responses to shared challenges.
This conference provided a unique space where African and Japanese youth move beyond theoretical learning to engage directly with development challenges that shape the future of both regions. In doing so, it challenges assumptions, builds empathy, and fosters collaboration across cultures and disciplines.
MAU Japan therefore stands as a bridge between continents, institutions, and generations. It strengthens Africa–Japan relations not only through dialogue, but through sustained youth engagement grounded in trust, understanding, and shared purpose. This guiding principle was woven throughout every discussion and resolution.
Guided by the philosophy of Ubuntu, the conference reaffirmed a central truth: that progress is not achieved in isolation, but through solidarity, cooperation, and collective responsibility.
As participants return to their institutions and communities, they carry forward not only new knowledge and experiences, but also a strengthened commitment to global citizenship and collaborative leadership. In this way, MAU Japan continues to shape a growing community of young leaders working toward a more inclusive, peaceful, and interconnected world.
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