Due to a deterioration in the international security context, the Italy-Africa summit scheduled for the beginning of October was postponed until January. This decision was taken by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, this in no way undermines the desire of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to strengthen ties between Italy and the African continent, particularly in the field of energy.
Indeed, Giorgia Meloni, accompanied by Claudio Descalzi, the general director of Eni, an Italian company specializing in gas, went to Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo to promote Italian investments in Africa. One of the projects discussed during this visit concerns a floating liquefied natural gas extraction platform in Mozambique, in which Eni has significant interests. Eni is also present in other African countries such as Algeria, Egypt and Ivory Coast.
The Italian Prime Minister aims to position Italy as a leader in the discussion between Africa and the European Union on the issue of gas supply. This subject would also have been at the heart of the Italy-Africa summit, where Giorgia Meloni intended to present her Mattei plan for Africa, in reference to the founder of Eni. This plan, which includes investments and partnerships, also aims to address the migration issue by proposing an alternative to reduce the phenomenon of mass migration.
Giorgia Meloni’s visit to Africa highlights the growing importance of Africa in the economic strategies of European countries. There is strong interest in the continent’s natural resources, particularly gas, but there is also a need to develop sustainable and equitable economic partnerships to promote Africa’s growth and development.
Despite the postponement of the Italy-Africa summit, the mission of the Italian Prime Minister to Africa demonstrates Italy’s commitment to strengthening its cooperation with African countries and playing an active role in the development of the continent. The coming months will therefore be crucial for observing the realization of Italian investments in Africa and the evolution of relations between Italy and African countries.