By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Italy on Friday promised to enhance its cooperation with African nations in critical sectors such as energy and infrastructure during Italy’s first phase of the Mattei Plan for Africa.
At the second Italy-Africa summit, the first to be held on African soil, which seeks to review projects started in key sectors, Italy’s Prime Minister reiterated that a successful partnership would depend on Italy’s “ability to draw from African wisdom” and ensure lessons are learned.
The Mattei Plan launched in 2024, is aimed at promoting investment-led cooperation, a shift from the traditional aid.
The PM Giorgia Meloni addressed dozens of African heads of state and governments in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa at the sidelines of AU Summit which officially started on Saturday.
“We want to build things together,” she told African heads of state. “We want to be more consistent with the needs of the countries involved.”
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Italy had provided Africa with a gateway to Europe through these partnerships.
“This is a moment to move from dialogue to action,” he said. “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.”
Since it was launched two years ago, the Mattei Plan has directly involved 14 African nations and has launched or advanced around 100 projects in crucial sectors, including energy and climate transition, agriculture and food security, physical and digital infrastructure, health care, water, culture and education, training and the development of artificial intelligence, according to the Italian government.
Kenyan writer and political analyst Nanjala Nyabola said tangible results from the AU Summit depend on preparations made by countries.
African governments often focus on “optics instead of actually making summits a meaningful engagement,” she said.
Instead of waiting to receive a list of demands, countries should “present the conclusions of an extended period of mapping the national needs” and engage in dialogue to see how the needs can be met.
