APA-Dakar (Senegal) The commitment was made at the Italy-Africa Summit held on 28 and 29 January 2024 in Rome, the Italian capital.
By Ibrahima Dione
Africa, a continent rich in resources but where everything remains largely unaddressed, is the focus of covetous interest.
Like France, Russia, Turkey, China and the United States, Italy, which takes over the presidency of the G7 this month, also wants to boost its trade with the continent.
“We believe it is possible to imagine and write a new chapter in the history of our relations, cooperation between equal partners, far removed from any predatory imposition or charitable stance towards Africa. Italy is naturally inclined to be a bridge between Africa and Europe. The world cannot imagine the future without thinking of
Africa,” Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni declared.
Mrs. Meloni was joined by 25 African leaders, including Azali Assoumani (Comoros), Macky Sall (Senegal), Nana Akufo-Addo (Ghana), William Ruto (Kenya) and Denis Sassou-Nguesso (Congo), Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (Somalia), Emmerson Mnangagwa (Zimbabwe), Kaïs Saïed (Tunisia), Filipe Nyusi (Mozambique), Isaias Afwerki (Eritrea), Abiy Ahmed (Ethiopia) and Ulisses Correa e Silva (Cape Verde).
Various initiatives aimed at strengthening economic ties between Italy and Africa, as well as curbing irregular emigration to Europe, were announced. They include an initial commitment of $5.95 billion, including guarantees.
The president of the African Union (AU) Commission, Moussa Faki, welcomed the pledged support, while noting that prior consultation with the continent would have been desirable, particularly when the Mattei plan was being drawn up, which was nevertheless in line with Africa’s priorities.
This plan, named after Enrico Mattei, the founder of the Italian energy group ENI, is supposed to be “a serious alternative to the phenomenon of mass immigration” thanks to a vast programme of investments and partnerships.
Akinwumi Adesina, the president of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, welcomed Italy’s “Mattei Plan for Africa,” which gives priority to energy security on the continent. Addressing the issue of illegal migration, Mr. Adesina said that “it is essential to continue to support the economic growth and development of African
countries, reduce their fragility and strengthen their resilienceé.”
Similarly, Roberta Metsola, the president of the European Parliament, said that if “Africa prospers, Europe prospers and so does the whole world.”
Powerless in the face of the migration phenomenon, Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, called for a united front in the fight against smugglers: “The best way to achieve this is
to join forces and crack down on criminals and, at the same time, put in place legal alternatives to the deadly routes taken by smugglers.”
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