Italy builds new African bridges
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Italy builds new African bridges
One of the few tangible links between Italy and Africa was returned to Ethiopia in 2005.
By Leon Louw reporting from Rome for WhyAfrica
The ancient Obelisk of Axum was shipped from Ethiopia to Rome by Mussolini in 1937 where it stood as a symbol of Italy’s colonial conquest of Ethiopia in Viale della Civiltà del Lavoro until being returned exactly 20 years ago.
Even if no longer in Rome, the Obelisk’s story still resonates here and the spot where it stood remains a symbolic link between Rome and Africa. Not only one that ties together empire, colonisation and archaeology, but also one that symbolises diplomacy, international cooperation and new beginnings.
Resuscitating old African ties
Italy, maybe more than any other European country, is resuscitating old African ties, and they are doing it with verve on a new blank canvas.
According to Teresa Nogueira Pinto, author at Geopolitical Intelligence Service, Italy’s so-called Mattei Plan for Africa (unlike UN and EU strategies), makes few political demands of African partners.
The plan is based on six pillars: energy, infrastructure, water, agriculture, education and training, and health.
“Energy is a particularly critical domain, as Italy seeks to consolidate its position as an energy hub in Europe and secure a stable supply of resources,” she says.
At the Italy-Africa Summit in 2024 (held under the slogan “a bridge for common growth”) the importance of Italian companies to expand into African markets while focusing on the economic development of African countries was top of the agenda.
The Mattei Plan was initially focused on Maghreb countries but later expanded to the sub-Saharan region, namely Mozambique (where Eni has a major gas extraction operation in the Rovuma Basin), as well as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Kenya and the Ivory Coast.
“Current Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni recently passed the 1000 days in office mark, a rare achievement in Italian politics, and has emerged as one of Europe’s most pragmatic leaders,” writes Pinto.
Maloni has taken significant steps for Rome to position itself as a reliable partner across the Maghreb and the Sahel.
The success of the Mattei Plan and Italy’s rising profile in Africa have boosted more ambitious initiatives like the EU Global Gateway and the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment.
Moreover, the African Development Bank has now become a leading financial backer of the Mattei Plan.
WhyAfrica is on the ground in Rome, Italy, reporting about the growing African and Italian links and as the EU and Italy starts preparing to further expand its footprint into Africa.
Continue following WhyAfrica as we connect the dots and trace the growing number of European companies venturing into Africa.
Image: An old Italian bridge over the Tiber river in Rome. Image credit: Leon Louw for WhyAfrica
Italy builds new African bridges