Italy reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cooperation with African nations during the second Italy-Africa summit, which took place on African soil for the first time. The summit focused on reviewing projects initiated in critical sectors such as energy and infrastructure, as part of the first phase of the Mattei Plan for Africa. Launched in 2024, this initiative emphasises investment-led cooperation instead of traditional aid.
In her address to numerous African heads of state and government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni highlighted that the success of this partnership would depend on Italy’s capacity to leverage African insights and ensure meaningful lessons are learned. She stated, “We want to build things together,” and expressed a desire to better align with the needs of the involved countries.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed echoed these sentiments, noting that Italy has provided Africa with an important gateway to Europe through these collaborations. “This is a moment to move from dialogue to action,” he remarked, emphasising the potential of combining Africa’s dynamic population with Europe’s expertise, technology, and capital to create solutions that foster mutual prosperity.
Following the conclusion of the Italy-Africa summit, African leaders will remain in Addis Ababa for the annual African Union Summit, which commences Saturday.
Kenyan writer and political analyst Nanjala Nyabola observed that the preparatory efforts of the participating countries largely influence the effectiveness of these summits. She emphasised the importance of substantive engagement rather than mere optics. Instead of waiting for a list of demands, countries should proactively present the outcomes of a thorough assessment of national needs and engage in constructive dialogue to address those needs.
Since its inception two years ago, the Mattei Plan has been actively involved with 14 African nations. It has initiated or advanced approximately 100 projects in essential sectors, including energy and climate transition, agriculture and food security, physical and digital infrastructure, healthcare, water, culture and education, training, and the development of artificial intelligence, as reported by the Italian government.
This article used information from The Associated Press.
