Italy’s New Partnership for Africa

by Sebastien GOULARD

On 29 January, 2024, Giorgia Meloni, the Prime Minister of Italy, announced during a meeting with representatives from 25 African states, including several heads of state in Rome, a €5.5 billion investment plan for Africa.

The new partnership marks a departure from previous initiatives. As stated by Meloni, it represents a cooperation on an equal footing, “far from any predatory imposition or charitable stance”. This strategy will be built upon five pillars: education, agriculture, health, water, and energy.

Pilot Projects

Initially, this partnership will take the form of pilot projects that could be replicated in other regions. In Morocco, Rome is expected to fund a renewable energy training centre, in Tunisia, a key partner for Italy, the focus will be on education, while in Ivory Coast, the health of mothers and children will receive attention. Agriculture projects are set to launch in Algeria and Egypt, along with a biofuel initiative in Kenya. Rome aims to multiply initiatives to assert its expertise among its African partners.

Italian Companies Engaged in this Plan

Italy is diversifying across sectors and destinations, involving major companies in the country. It is no coincidence that this new Italian partnership for Africa is named the “Mattei Plan”, after the founder of the Italian energy giant ENI, Ennio Mattei (1906-1962). Meloni hopes to involve major Italian companies in this new African partnership, enabling them to better expand in emerging markets that are expected to experience significant growth in the coming years. Companies such as ENI, ENEL, Fincantieri, Leonardo, and Terna could participate in this initiative. These companies require political support from Rome to thrive in African markets where they face competition from politically active countries like China and Turkey.

Energy Takes Priority

Although the Italian plan for Africa is multifaceted, energy plays a significant role. Rome aspires to become the primary gateway for energy between Africa and Europe. Plans include a new hydrogen pipeline connecting both shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Italian companies may also invest in a new pipeline between Nigeria and Algeria. In December 2023, ENI announced an investment of over €9 billion in an offshore field in Ivory Coast. These investments involve fossil fuels and renewable energies. Meloni’s policy is partly motivated by the desire to reduce Europe’s energy dependence on Russia since the invasion of Ukraine, utilizing Africa’s hydrocarbon resources and renewable energy potential, including photovoltaics.

The announcement by the Italian Prime Minister carries a strong environmental dimension. Three billion euros of the Italy-Africa plan would come from the new Italian Climate Fund created in 2021, and the remaining €2.5 billion would be financed through various development cooperation sources.

From Immigration Concerns to Asserting Italian Soft Power

By promoting investments in Africa, the Italian government aims to create a new dynamic to reduce illegal immigration from the African continent. Italy is grappling with a migration crisis, being the primary entry point for African migrants into Europe. In 2023, nearly 158,000 migrants arrived on Italian shores via the Mediterranean. While Meloni was elected in 2022 on anti-immigration positions, she has been so far unable to demonstrate effectiveness in addressing migration. One of the objectives of the newly announced plan is to offer new development opportunities to African countries, allowing them to retain a portion of their youth by providing new prospects.

Since 1 January, Rome assumed the presidency of the G7, and the next summit is expected to take place in the Puglia region from 13 to 15 June, 2024. Among the various issues the G7 countries must address, Italy has identified intelligence and Africa as priorities. The Italy-Africa summit plan aligns with Rome’s new ambitions, more pragmatic than in the past. Meloni aims to attract African states that may have been disappointed in the past by Western powers and that are developing new partnerships with Russia and China. Italy has chosen to overlook the hardening of certain African regimes; leaders criticized for authoritarianism, such as Isaias Afwerki, the President of Eritrea, and Kais Saied, the President of Tunisia, were both present in Rome. Tunisia, a close neighbour of Italy, is expected to become a key partner in Italy’s African strategy.

The focus now is on not disappointing and swiftly implementing the discussed projects to create momentum. The announced funds must be promptly invested. Additionally, the Italian government must better coordinate with African powers. Azali Assoumani, the current President of the Comoros and African Union Chairperson, expressed regret at not being consulted by Rome on this plan.

In addition to this plan, Rome is strengthening its presence on the African continent. A new embassy is set to be inaugurated in Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, and three offices of the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) are expected to open in Dakar (Senegal), Nairobi (Kenya), and Lagos (Nigeria). These decisions follow Meloni’s visit to the Horn of Africa in April 2023 and her meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somali President Hassan Sheikh, as well as President Mattarella’s visit to Kenya in March 2023.

The Italian Plan and the European Union (EU) Strategy

The Italian plan must be seen within the context of the broader EU strategy for Africa. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stated that the plan is complementary to the European partnership.

As part of the European “Global Gateway” programme, the EU plans to invest nearly €150 billion in Africa between 2021 and 2027, accounting for nearly half of the total Global Gateway funds. Africa is a priority in EU cooperation and development policies; Italy has embraced this priority and is developing its approach. If successful, Rome could become indispensable in the energy policy of both Europe and Africa.