Photo/Illutration Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama and U.S. President Bill Clinton hold a joint news conference after the Japan-U.S. summit in July 1994 in Naples, Italy. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama explored options with U.S. President Bill Clinton and the head of the U.N.'s refugee agency for dispatching the Self-Defense Forces to Africa in 1994 for its first overseas humanitarian aid mission during his tenure, according to diplomatic documents released on Dec. 24. 

The Foreign Ministry declassified the files, focusing on those from 1994 when the Murayama coalition Cabinet was formed by the Liberal Democratic Party, the Japan Socialist Party, and the New Party Sakigake, in accordance with an internal rule, in principle, to release documents after 30 years.

According to these, Murayama, then head of the Japan Socialist Party, stated in a meeting with Clinton on July 8, 1994, right after taking office, "Japan-U.S. cooperation is for the sake of world peace. While feeling the weight of the responsibility placed upon me, I want to cooperate on the challenges facing the international community."

A large number of refugees had fled to neighboring countries due to the massacres of civilians during the Rwandan Civil War.

Clinton sent a letter to Murayama on July 22 stating that the refugee assistance needed exceeded the amount that U.S. and French forces could provide, and requested the dispatch of a humanitarian aid unit.

After the Cold War, the United States focused on Africa, where conflicts continued.

Amid growing criticism within the United States as deaths of soldiers sent for the U.N. peacekeeping operation (PKO) in Somalia increased, the U.S. was also engaged in Rwandan refugee assistance along with French forces.

In his reply on Aug. 3, Murayama declared, "This is one of the greatest humanitarian problems facing the international community. We will provide as much cooperation as possible so that we can contribute to its resolution."

Clinton, in his reply on Aug. 17, stated that he was pleased that the world's two largest aid donors could undertake such a vital cooperation.

According to Foreign Ministry records, Murayama on Aug. 3 told Kunihiko Saito, vice minister for Foreign Affairs, "I suppose we won't stand out unless we make a personnel contribution, not just a monetary one."

On Aug. 18, Sadako Ogata, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, who was appealing to the international community for Rwandan refugee aid, telephoned Murayama and urged, "The on-site dispatch of a self-sufficient organization is necessary."

Murayama, who had been hesitant, responded, "Understanding for dispatching the SDF is growing among the public. The sooner, the better.”

Although there were also complaints from the JSP members, the Murayama Cabinet decided on Sept. 13 to dispatch the SDF.

The supporting PKO Cooperation Law had been enacted two years prior under an LDP administration, and the JSP, which was the largest opposition party at the time, had strongly opposed it to “prevent the dispatch of troops overseas.”

Amid deteriorating local security, the SDF withdrew as scheduled in December 1994 without suffering any casualties.

In his January 1995 policy speech, Murayama stated, “The activities of the SDF were highly regarded internationally. We will actively contribute to U.N. activities such as peacekeeping operations.”

Murayama passed away earlier this year at the age of 101.

(This article was written by Mano Keita and senior staff writer Naotaka Fujita.)

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This article is part of a series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry in December 2025.

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