The Polisario Front did not take part in the recent Italy–Africa Summit which took place at the headquarters of the African Union in the Ethiopian capital.
According to converging diplomatic sources, invitations issued by Rome were addressed exclusively to African states recognised by the United Nations, thereby excluding the self-proclaimed “SADR.”
The meeting brought together delegations from 54 African countries to discuss priorities related to economic cooperation, energy and migration.
Several African diplomats indicated that Algeria, the Polisario’s main backer, had undertaken prior efforts to secure the entity’s participation in the proceedings. These initiatives did not succeed. The Italian government maintained the original format of the summit, limiting attendance to sovereign states recognised at the international level.
Asked about the matter in Addis Ababa, Italian officials stressed that the objective of the gathering was to consolidate a structured bilateral partnership with African governments, in accordance with prevailing diplomatic norms.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni framed the summit within the context of the “Mattei Plan,” a strategy presented by Rome as a new pillar of its Africa policy. The plan aims to strengthen Italy’s energy security, diversify gas supplies, support infrastructure projects and structure migration cooperation. Italian authorities have emphasised an approach based on targeted economic partnerships and intergovernmental agreements.
At the regional level, the Western Sahara issue remains a source of diplomatic divergence between Morocco and Algeria. Rabat advocates an autonomy plan under Moroccan sovereignty, while Algiers continues to back the Polisario Front.
In recent years, several Western capitals have expressed support for Morocco’s autonomy initiative, although the United Nations has not altered the formal framework of the political process.
The exclusion of the Polisario from the Italy–Africa format reflects a practice already witnessed at other international summits involving African partners and external powers, where invitations are generally reserved for recognised states. In Addis Ababa, discussions focused primarily on investment, energy and development, leaving unresolved regional disputes on the sidelines.
MK/ak/sf/lb/as/APA