Giorgia Meloni, the Italian Prime Minister, arrived in Ethiopia on Friday for the second Italy-Africa summit.
The goal: to strengthen Rome's influence on the continent through the "Mattei Plan," an ambitious project combining economics, diplomacy, and the fight against immigration. In Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, Giorgia Meloni champions a vision: Africa must be able to exploit its own resources, without depending on foreign powers. A powerful message, as Italy seeks to position itself vis-à-vis China and France. The challenge of this entirely new cooperation rests first and foremost on Africa's capacity to live off its own resources, to process its raw materials and prevent their plundering, to cultivate its fields, and to provide work and opportunities for its most talented individuals.
The "Mattei plan," named after the former head of Italy's energy sector, relies on massive investments: infrastructure, energy, and above all, addressing the root causes of immigration. For Giorgia Meloni, the goal is not to exploit cheap labor, but to create conditions that encourage young Africans to stay in their own countries.
Two years after the first summit, Rome still needs to clarify its strategy. But Giorgia Meloni, guest of honor at the 39th session of the African Union, intends to unveil the next steps of the Mattei plan: energy security, infrastructure financing, and private sector growth.
