Italy Commits to Strengthened Partnership at Second Italy-Africa Summit
Italy has pledged to deepen its cooperation with African countries during the second Italy-Africa summit, held for the first time on African soil in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The summit, which concluded on Friday, aimed to review projects initiated under the first phase of Italy's Mattei Plan for Africa, focusing on critical sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and digital development.
Meloni Emphasises Collaborative Approach
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni addressed dozens of African heads of state and government in the Ethiopian capital, reiterating that a successful partnership hinges on Italy's "ability to draw from African wisdom" and ensure lessons are learned. "We want to build things together," she told the assembled leaders. "We want to be more consistent with the needs of the countries involved."
The Mattei Plan, launched in 2024, promotes investment-led cooperation rather than traditional aid models. Since its inception, it has directly involved 14 African nations and has launched or advanced approximately 100 projects across key areas including:
- Energy and climate transition
- Agriculture and food security
- Physical and digital infrastructure
- Healthcare and water resources
- Culture, education, and training
- Artificial intelligence development
African Leaders Call for Action-Oriented Dialogue
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed welcomed Italy's initiative, describing it as providing Africa with a gateway to Europe through these partnerships. "This is a moment to move from dialogue to action," he stated. "By combining Africa's energetic and creative population with Europe's experience, technology and capital, we can build solutions that deliver prosperity to our continents and beyond."
Following the Italy-Africa summit, African leaders remained in Addis Ababa for the annual African Union Summit beginning on Saturday, highlighting the continent's ongoing diplomatic engagements.
Analyst Highlights Need for Substantive Preparation
Kenyan writer and political analyst Nanjala Nyabola cautioned that tangible results from such summits depend heavily on preparations made by participating countries. She noted that African governments often focus on "optics instead of actually making summits a meaningful engagement." Instead of waiting to receive external demands, Nyabola suggested countries should "present the conclusions of an extended period of mapping the national needs" and engage in dialogue to determine how those needs can be effectively met through international partnerships.
The Italian government's commitment to the Mattei Plan represents a strategic shift toward sustainable development cooperation, with the second summit serving as a crucial checkpoint for assessing progress and aligning future initiatives with Africa's evolving priorities.
